The report of women’s approach to public toiletry infrastructure in Calcutta revealed a significant spatial disparity that flew infrastructure bias, which prefers more rich areas in the neighborhood with lower incomes.
The report called “Status of Public Toilets for Women and Trans Queer Persons in Calcutta” pointed out that out of 144 departments at Kolkata, at least 23 departments did not have access to public toilets for women. Department where scientists have found that the absence of toilet facilities was often characterized by populations with lower incomes with significant concentrations of marginalized communities, including Muslims and planned caste (SC).
An extensive report based on a report with more than 7,616 respondents was compiled by Sabar Institute based in Calcutta, AZAD foundations and volunteers from eight universities and two universities. Among the women who participated in the survey were 43% of street sellers, 13.8% were domestic workers and 15.7% were retailers. 38 transpersons were asked during the survey.
“This disparity means that the poorest city inhabitants have the smallest access to this fundamental right … The data reveal a recognizable correlation where a department with a higher degree of car ownership, a representative for the well -being, has greater availability of public toilets.
Access and availability of toilets is disproportionate for demand. For example, at Howrah and Sealdah, who sees how he is for women, there is only a handful of toilets. There are 19 toilets for women at the Hwrah station, while Sealdah has 24 toilets.
Another interesting aspect that resulted in a study is that most women attended a study (72.9%) said they had to pay for the use of public toilets.
“These expenses create a significant financial burden that consumes an estimated 10% of their daily intake. They reflect this load, 73.6% of respondents said they did not want to access the paid toilet, indicating a strong preference for free devices.”
Sabir Ahamed, a researcher associated with a study, said there were many investments in the infrastructure of a similar overpass, underpass or meter in the urban planning discourse. “However, there are deplorable investments in building public toilets. It has a negative impact on the participation of workforce. Our study finds obstacles to access to public toilets by women and what could be forward,” he said.
The message also casts light on the question of safety and security of women using public toilets. “Most respondents (54.32%) said they feel dangerous when using public hygienic facilities. This is impaired by a lack of basic safety, with 38.1% of women report non -existent or broken toilet door locks,” she said.
The ganguly dolon, the main official of the Azad Foundation, associated with the publication of the report, pointed out that in the country in general and specifically in Calcutta is one of the main reasons for the low number of women’s and transvars in the labor force in public places, and this study also reveals the same.
“We would like to apply for Kolkata Municipal Corporation to build toilets including gender inclusive with all civic equipment such as handwash, sanitary automatic and liquidation arrangements, well lit, clean, spacious, accessible, accessible, available, available, available, gangules added.
Other problems marked in the report are cleanliness and hygiene, and most respondents in the survey (60.78%) stated that the lack of equipment for soap and hand washing. “Poor cleanliness was the second most cited problem (55.64%), which was closely followed by insufficient pure water supply (51.25%). Data on the perception of the user confirm the poor conditions combined by 30.9%of the respondents of the equipment as” dirty “or” very dirty “.”
The report was published on Monday on Rotary Sadan Kolkata, where there was a panel discussion on the question of women’s approach and transci to public transport. Among those who participated were Samata Biswas, a professor at Calcato Sanskrit College, Swati Moitr, who teaches at Gurudas College and Zakaria Siddique, Professor at Jamia Millia Islamia.
“Studies Sabar and Azad on access to a public toilet by women from Calcutta are backing down the feeling that we have always had experience-that is abysmal low, unhygienic and has a long-term impact on women’s health and well-being,” said Samata Biswas, who participated in a prefabricated discussion.
Biswas added that it is heartbreaking to learn about the fighting women face, including limitation of fluid intake to avoid toilets, carrying significant economic burden (up to 10% of their income) for the use of public toilets and navigation in safety risks such as poor maintained facilities with their own privacy.
Published – 1 September 2025 9:25
