shot-button
Subscription Subscription
Home > News > India News > Article > Still no relief for women cops

Still no relief for women cops

Updated on: 03 June,2011 10:28 AM IST  | 
Kaumudi Gurjar |

After seven months, MiD DAY revisits police stations and chowkies in city and finds there are still no separate restrooms for policewomen

Still no relief for women cops

After seven months, MiD DAY revisits police stations and chowkies in city and finds there are still no separate restrooms for policewomen

For woman officers and constables at police stations in the city, a single call of nature can be a harrowing experience. The authorities concerned seemed to have deemed it unnecessary to indulge women cops with separate lavatories. Some seven months ago MiD DAY had highlighted the plight of women officers posted at various police stations and chowkies in the city, who had claimed there were no separate rest rooms for them.


Desperate times: The Ravivar Peth police chowky (pink building)
does not even have a common toilet and the police here have to use
the facility at a public dispensary (green) near it; (right) the October
20, 2010, MiD DAY report on lack of restrooms for women in the force
across the city. Pic/Jignesh Mistry


MiD DAY revisited 29 police stations and some chowkies in the city and found that any remedial action in this direction has been conspicuously wanting.u00a0u00a0"It's our right. Why should we even demand for one? I am unable to understand why the authorities continue to ignore our need for toilets?" said a woman police officer on condition of anonymity.u00a0 Vidya Bal, veteran women rights activist, said: "This issue needs to be tackled on a war- footing. This is a basic necessity and I wonder how it was ignored for so long. If there is a space crunch or if the necessary sanctions are taking longer, then preference should be given to mobile toilets. But quick action is needed." MiD DAY visited Bundgarden, Cantonment, Hadapsar, Wanawadi, Sahakarnagar, Deccan and Shivajinagar police stations and found there was still no provision for separate toilets.

Embarrassing
"It is so embarrassing that I used to travel 3km back home every day just to visit the lavatory, as my doctor has asked me to avoid public toilets to avoid urinary infections," said a woman police sub-inspector. At the Faraskhana police station the work on construction of a separate lavatory is on. None of the 60 police chowkies have provisions for separate toilets, while in some like Ravivar Peth police chowky, the fact that the need to micturate occasionally is a basic human instinct seems to be forgotten.

"Though a lavatory for women is being built at our police station, there is not even a common toilet at Ravivar Peth police chowky. Cops there are forced to use the toilet in public dispensary opposite to the chowky," said a constable attached to the Faraskhana police station. Commissioner of Police Meeran Chaddha Borwankar promised to look into the matter. "Our efforts are still on. We are trying to get separate toilets for women constructed at police stations and chowkies," Borwankar said.

Temporary set-up
Police Inspector Sushma Chavan, in-charge at the Cantonment Police station, has ensured there is at least a separate dressing room at the station and a toilet at all the police chowkies under its jurisdiction except Pulgate. "We have made temporary provision for a dressing room for women and I have submitted my proposal to the Public Works Department to construct one rest room behind our police station." Chavan said. "Earlier, we were facing problems, so I gave top priority to making available separate lavatories for women at our police station and all chowkies under the Cantonment police station.




"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!


Mid-Day Web Stories

Mid-Day Web Stories

This website uses cookie or similar technologies, to enhance your browsing experience and provide personalised recommendations. By continuing to use our website, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. OK