It is very difficult to find clean and hygienic toilets in public spaces. However, Kerala has been declared as Total Open Defecation Free State. Without directing all Local Self Governments (LSGs) to construct sufficient toilets for public, the Kerala High Court banned open defecation and also given instruction to LSGs and government to punish those who defecate in open.
LSGs across the state give a lot of excuses and reasons why they cannot construct clean toilets for public. Not getting staff for maintenance and cleaning, lack of proper locations, hurdles for waste treatment and non availability of water, etc are the main hindrances to construct sufficient toilets as far as LSGs are concerned.
Around eight years ago, a Technopark based company came up with a new initiative called eToilet, which aims to address the problems in public sanitation. After obtaining a special Government Order which gives permissive sanction for LSGs to purchase etoilets from Keltron and Metal Industries, they deployed hundreds of units’ across Kerala.
In the initial phase, eToilets received overwhelming response from all LSG institutions and crores of rupees from MLA and MP funds were utilised to construct eToilets. Most of them were installed without conducting proper feasibility study and this caused serious issues and later large numbers of costly toilets were found unattended and abandoned across the state.
Unavailability of proper location, hurdles to get water and electricity connections, lack of funds to pay for maintenance after the warranty period are the main hurdles faced by LSGs in implementing eToilets. She Toilets promoted by Women’s Development Corporation became successful because they could manage AMC charges after warranty. To promote new initiatives and social entrepreneurship which addresses social issues like sanitation and garbage, government must allot special fund in annual budget for maintenance to ensure sustainability of projects like this.
To construct clean and hygiene toilets, the State owned PWD formed a CIAL model public limited company called Ashwas Public Amenities Kerala Ltd. In the initial phase they successfully constructed large numbers of toilet blocks and complexes mainly in tourist locations and bus stations. They also developed electronic toilet called Eve’s Own Toilets for ladies. Due to the lack of aggressiveness, there are no major initiatives from APAKL. PWD must take serious steps to construct more toilet complexes and blocks especially in government offices and schools.
Sulabh International constructs and maintains cost effective toilets and they are maintaining them professional. Most of the toilet blocks and complexes constructed as BOT model by them are receiving good response from public, especially senior citizens and women. However, recruiting staff for maintenance, getting feasible site for civil construction, providing water and electricity connections and hurdles to waste treatment are the main issue faces by Sulabh for implementing new toilets.
The latest experiment regarding public toilet is “Container Toilets”, the initiative by The better Kochi Response Group, which has installed the same in Kochi in the initial phase. They constructed Container toilet after using used cargo containers. Time will prove if the container can solve toilet crisis in the public places.
To construct toilets in public places is not an Herculean task. Government must promote more innovations that address sanitation issue in a very comprehensive way. There should be clear directives from government towards all government departments and bodies to construct toilets for public in their respective premises with immediate effect.
Kerala is advancing in different areas like IT, Medical, Tourism, Education, and Infrastructure. However, we lack toilets. Clean and a hygienice toilets in public places are considered as the mark of civilised community. Without ensuring the same, we can’t considered as a most advanced state.
(Sureshkumar N has been working inthe Public infrastructure sector for the past several years)
