Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (DV)
Bantwal, Oct 6: Usually, women who visit towns for work suffer to attend nature's call due to lack of proper toiler facilities in towns.
But, the Bantwal Town Municipal Council has taken the initiative and found a solution to end the inconvenience faced by women by building a model pink toilet. In this model pink toilet, women can avail few facilities under a single rooftop. Even lactating mothers can feed their little ones in the feeding centre of the pink toilet.
Pink toilet is a special toilet that has been constructed exclusively for women in Mangaluru. Moreover, in this toilet, there is a separate restroom.
For the first time in Dakshina Kannada district, a pink toilet is being constructed on the B C Road-Kaikunje connecting road by the side. The pink toilet is being constructed adjacent to the Bantwal Administrative Soudha. This is the concept of Leena Britto, Chief Officer (CO) of Bantwal Town Municipal Council.
There will be a separate feeding area and for sanitary pads in this toilet. This toilet will be useful for women who will be in town to get their work done at taluk office, court, and other government offices as it is just a few meters close to this facility. An air conditioning facility is also being installed in the restroom. Leena Britto is planning to install a cradle for babies as well in the restroom.
Work on construction of the pink toilet has been taken up under the Amruth Nirmal Nagar Scheme. A grant of Rs 1 crore grant has been released to Bantwal Town Municipal Council under this project. A sum of Rs 26 lacs has been spent on the construction of the pink toilet. Now, the work of construction of the pink toilet has reached the final stage.
Surprisingly, while construction work was in progress, the project was stayed twice. The construction work on the toilet was started in April 2022.
Acting on a complaint the then DC Dr Rajendra K V had stopped the work on the grounds that the toilet is being built close to the front gate of the Bantwal Taluk Office. However, the toilet is being constructed on the side of B C Road - Kaikunje connecting road. Later, DC inspected the work of this toilet. However, construction work on the toiler began after a meeting held at the Town Municipal Council.
The pink toilet which is being built exclusively for women will be inaugurated soon. The public should appreciate the tireless efforts of Leena Britto for planning to build a pink toilet after realising the women’s problems.
Leena Britto, Chief Officer (CO) of Bantwal Town Municipal Council told media persons that the pink toilet is being constructed at a cost of Rs 29 lacs under the Amruth Nirmal Nagar Scheme of the Union government.
Leena Britto said, “The union government has released Rs 1 crore under the Amruth Nirmal Nagar Scheme. We are spending Rs 29 lac to build a full-fledged pink toilet. So that it should be useful for women who arrive in town on various works. There will be essential facilities like a feeding centre, incinerator, and other basic facilities which will be useful for women."
"This is situated close to the bus stand. It will be especially useful to those women who travel by bus and visit government offices. Many women come to these offices with their toddlers," she added.