Women cops desperate for toilets

The 2,500 policewomen in the city and Pimpri-Chinchwad have to hold their bladders for hours at a stretch because many of the 29 police stations and almost all of the about 60 chowkies lack separate toilets for women.

And those fortunate enough to have separate toilets at police stations say the condition of the facilities is so bad that they prefer going to nearby restaurants to relieve themselves.

Many who work at the chowky level say they are forced to share toilets with their male counterparts; only a few toilets have overhead tanks to ensure running water and sanitation, and this makes the toilet break a nightmare.

Twenty-two women police personnel attached to the Hinjewadi police station have to walk at least 40 metres to relieve themselves at the roadside restaurant Tamanna. And when Tamanna shuts after 11 pm, the women on night duty at the police station are forced to wait till the restaurant reopens next morning.

There is no separate toilet for women police personnel at the police station. The police station is a crucial one, considering Hinjewadi is an IT hub.

Police officers blame the situation on scarcity of space and say that the problem can only be solved after the police station concerned gets land sanctioned.

Bad experiences
The 2,500 women police personnel in the city narrate similar experiences as are to be heard at Hinjewadi.

Those fortunate enough to have separate toilets at police stations say the condition of the facilities available is bad.

Many who work at the chowky level say they are forced to share toilets with their male counterparts; only a few toilets have overhead tanks to ensure running water or proper sanitation, and this makes the toilet break a nightmare.

"Initially, I used to travel three kilometres back home during lunchtime just to relieve myself. As my seniors were upset and I was unable to explain to them that the condition of toilet needed to improve, I started using the toilet in whatever condition it was," said a woman police sub-inspector who joined the force in 2007. "Now I suffer from frequent urinary tract infection due to improper sanitation and lack of water."

Another officer said women attached to police stations were better off than those on duty at chowkies.
"The condition of toilets at police stations is a shade better," said the officer. "But at the chowky level there are hardly any toilets."

Lack of space
DCP Dnyaneshwar Chavan of Zone III said there was problem wherever police stations were on rented land.

"Apart from the Hinjewadi and Sangvi police stations, we have separate toilets for women cops at all the other police stations in Zone III," said Chavan. "As the police stations at these two places are built on rented space, we are facing difficulties in building separate toilets there. The problem can be solved once we get land sanctioned for police stations at these two places."

Top cop speaks
Days after Police Commissioner Meeran Chaddha Borwankar took charge to become the first woman to hold the post in the state, she said all police stations in the city should have separate toilets and rest rooms for women police personnel.

Police sources said that recently Borwankar had even asked for a status check, but despite this the situation at all the 29 police stations and about 60 chowkies remains pathetic.

"I can not change the situation overnight but I am following it up and I am taking it seriously," said Borwankar.

Inhuman
Dr Anand Shinde, president, Pune Obstetric and Gynaecological Society, said "It is inhuman to appoint someone at a place where there are no toilets. If there is scarcity of space, plastic toilet modules can be used as these require lesser space. When there are no proper toilets, people tend to cut down on water intake to reduce the frequency of having to use the toilet, but this gives rise to other problems," said Shinde. "Indian toilets are scientific modules for public places as there are more chances of infection if a large number of people use western toilets."