Make public toilets free for women: BJP to CM

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, August 14

The BJP urged Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to make the use of public toilets free of charge for women living in the JJ clusters as they are unable to pay the monthly charge of Rs 300-Rs 400 per head.

In a letter written to the Chief Minister, former BJP MLA RP Singh said it is a fact that jhuggi dwellers are forced into open defecation because of the fee charged for toilet usage. This fee can be more than Rs 300-Rs 400 per month for women in a family and becomes unbearable if the toilet is used by all the women and girls at home.

Singh urged the CM, “Sir, this Independence Day, can your good office set these poor women free from paying usage charges in all the public toilets. Also, Kejriwal Ji, can you imagine where, how & when would these poor women, living in 6x6 ft homes, be having bath?”

He also urged the Chief Minister to provide public bathing spaces for women. “During my 10-month tenure as the MLA, I had similarly arranged for eight public bathing spaces in Sangam Colony cluster (near Naraina Bus Depot),” Singh said.

Cooperation from concerned and distinguished citizens can also be solicited to help women of 675 jhuggi clusters in the national Capital. “I am also willing to contribute my MLA pension towards this noble cause”, he said.

He said, “Sir, with utmost humility I request you to kindly direct your departments concerned to arrange for waiving off toilet usage charges for the poor jhuggi dweller women. This small gesture will indeed be the real Independence Day gift for them. This one act of yours will give them freedom from shame every morning and give them respect that all our women deserve.”