The Bombay high court on Friday instructed every municipal corporation in the state to devise a policy to build toilets for women near main roads. In this regard, the court gave the municipal corporations a deadline of March 31, 2015.
The court has added that the scheme would not work without the help of NGOs. "Unless NGOs working in the field take initiative and responsibility of making periodic visits to ensure cleanliness and maintenance, the scheme will not be viable," observed the division bench of justices Abhay Oka and Ajey Gadkari.
The judges have allowed the NGOs to participate in the planning of the scheme itself.
The judges have further asked the corporations to make budgetary provisions, including for maintenance and cleanliness.
The counsel for Navi Mumbai municipal corporation suggested that charges for using the toilet facilities should be on the higher side. The judges replied that the charges should not be so high as to keep common women from using the facilities.
The judges have asked the corporations to ensure that the toilets are near busy roads and are kept clean. The judges added that the toilets must not become a nuisance.
The BMC had earlier informed the court that 96 spots along highways had been identified for building of toilets and more spots were being identified.
The HC is hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a Pune-based NGO. The court had earlier suggested that corporations should work with NGOs working on the Right to Pee campaign to provide toilets for women in public places.
The PIL also said that there are several working women across the city and they find it difficult to use existing toilets because these are unclean. Consequently, women suffer from ailments by virtue of not having access to a toilet.
The PIL argues that local authorities are obligated to provide toilets close to main roads.
"However, it will depend on facts and circumstances of each case considering availability of suitable location," said the judges on Friday.
