Somita Pal

A male friend of mine was ridiculing the idea of blogging about the loo conditions for women and my resolution to drink two litres of water daily. What is the big deal in it and why make such a hue and cry about a petty thing like washroom?

My reply was simple. Ask any women. You will get the answer. Women in a city like Mumbai- the commercial capital of our country are deprived of the basic right like washroom. On my way to work today, I met a fellow reporter who covers court. She was telling me how the urinals in one of the courts were locked and keys were kept male prosecutors. While spending long hours in court for covering the lady reporters avoided drinking water for the same reason.

While sharing her experience she said once a lady reporter urgently wanted to use the loo. It took them half an hour to locate the keys of the washroom. Things have changed since then. They decided to shame the authorities by everyday asking for the keys. Now the urinals are no more locked. Hygiene still remains a concern.

There are many such places were the urinals for women are locked. We would request women to share their experience.