PNS | DEHRADUN
Several women have voiced their concerns regarding the absence of both ‘smart’ and ‘pink’ toilets in key market areas of the city, such as Hanuman Chowk, Moti Bazaar, among others. Their concerns arose in response to a recent initiative proposed by the district magistrate aimed at establishing pink toilets for women in select areas of the city.
However, the district magistrate Savin Bansal has included the establishment of pink toilets specifically at Paltan Bazaar. In light of this, many women, along with the Doon Valley Mahanagar Udyog Vyapar Mandal (DVMUVM), have raised concerns and urged the relevant officials to extend the coverage of both regular and pink toilets throughout the entire market area of the city, including Hanuman Chowk, Moti Bazaar and other areas, rather than limiting the initiative to Paltan Bazaar alone.
Notably, pink toilets are restrooms specifically designated for women and adolescent girls. These facilities provide numerous amenities, including sanitary napkins and designated areas for breastfeeding, among others.
A local resident Rubi Narang said that the market area in Dehradun extends beyond Paltan Bazaar, encompassing locations such as Hanuman Chowk, Moti Bazaar and others. She said that she regularly visits this market area and has observed a lack of basic restroom or toilets facilities for the general public in these locations. Although the recent initiative by the DM is commendable, she believed that more emphasis should be placed on establishing accessible restrooms, whether pink or standard, throughout the entire market area rather than solely concentrating on Paltan Bazaar. Narang said that it becomes problematic for individuals at Hanuman Chowk, as they need to walk to Paltan Bazaar for toilet access.
“Instead of exclusively prioritising pink toilets, officials could consider providing standard toilets for both males and females. It is essential to ensure that toilets facilities are available throughout the entire market area. Limiting toilet access to Paltan Bazaar would not adequately serve the general public who frequent other market areas such as Hanuman Chowk, Adhat Bazaar, Dhamawala and Jhanda Bazaar,” said another local resident Vishakha Bhardwaj.
Several women have voiced similar concerns regarding the officials’ focus on toilets at Paltan Bazaar, rather than addressing the needs of the entire market area.
The president of the DVMUVM, Pankaj Mason, has also raised issues regarding the inadequate availability of toilets throughout the market, including Paltan Bazaar, Hanuman Bazaar and Moti Bazaar, among others. He noted that currently, Paltan Bazaar has an average of four smart and simple toilets installed; however, their condition is not satisfactory for public use.
Therefore, rather than constructing new facilities at Paltan Bazaar, the officials should prioritise the renovation of the existing toilets and also establish one pink toilet and one simple toilet in the other mentioned markets. Implementing a pink toilet in Paltan Bazaar does not address the broader issue for the general public, which requires attention to the entire market area, he said.
