ABSTRACT
SANITATION AND HYGIENE of public toilets is a major concern in the country. It becomes the right of every citizen to acquire access to sanitised and clean washrooms. Poor and unhygienic toilets lead to transmission and spread of various bacteria, disease, etc. Especially in the 21st century when there is a need to talk about cleanliness and hygiene as a major concern for all individuals and especially for women, which is a basic human right. This study helps to know the concerns and issues faced by women of the age group 18-50. And least awareness about rights related to sanitation and hygiene.
Keywords: Hygiene, Sanitation, Public Washrooms, Women, Cleanliness, Health issues, Diseases, Availability, laws
INTRODUCTION
Hygiene, cleanliness, sanitation are immensely essential as better hygiene leads to better health, confidence and overall growth. Inadequate hygiene and sanitation has adverse effects on the health of humans, especially women. Sanitation and cleanliness of public washrooms has been a major concern. Simply, having proper facilities improves the standard of living of an individual. Hygiene and sanitation is concerned with providing clean toilets and immaculate ambience. Public toilets are essentials and basic needs and toilets are a gauge of sanitation and hygiene worldwide. According to WHO (World Health Organization over 1.7 billion people still do not have basic sanitation services, such as private/ public toilets for latrines and in addition to this, of the above numbered population 494 million still defecate in the open, for example in street gutters, behind bushes or into open bodies of water. Lack of proper sanitation affects women and girls in particular. Women and girls have due sanitation needs especially when they are menstruating or in general. Poor Sanitation weakens social and economic development due to impacts of anxiety, risk of sexual assault and lose on opportunities in education and work.
OBJECTIVE:
- To understand the issues faced by women between the age group 18-50 years, relating to sanitation and hygiene in public toilets.
- To study the problems faced by women due to unhygienic toilets.
- To suggest measures for ensuring hygiene and sanitation in public toilets.
DATA COLLECTION:
- Both primary and secondary methods were used for conducting the survey.
- A survey was conducted online via Google Forms.
- URL:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1e9Oe0zeJkaCHKU6Y3zNkAis-j0ldhbTNPsishqvZqiI/edit
- The questionnaires consisted of 9-10 questions.
- Out of it, 4-5 questions were yes/no, multiple choice type and rest were short answers kind.
- The questionnaire was circulated amongst females aged 18-50 years.
FIGURES:
Fig 1.1 Fig 1.2
Fig 1.3 Fig 1.4
Fig 1.5 Fig 1.6
ANALYSIS & CONCLUSION:
The questionnaires were filled, out of total 78.5 % were from the age group 18-30 years, for the age group 31-40 years it was 4.7% and 16.8% were from age group 41-50 years (fig 1.1).
Out of the total, 79.4% of people did not prefer using public washrooms (fig 1.2). And 69.2% of people witnessed a lack of cleanliness of washrooms in their society, college, etc. (fig 1.3). When asked, if they have encountered issues due to poor infrastructure, lack of water facilities, poor hygiene and sanitation. And it turns out that 60.7% women have encountered all of the above-mentioned issues, whereas 38.35% poor hygiene and sanitation is also a major concern (fig 1.4). With 18.7%- and 12.1%-women finding issues related to lack of water facility and poor infrastructure respectively (fig 1.4).
Health issues due to unclean and unsanitized toilets is a major problem for 51.4% of women (fig 1.5).
And to pay an emphasis on 100% of the women do feel that access to toilet and sanitation is a basic human right (fig 1.6). Whereas, 63.6% of the total women have no awareness about any laws for hygiene and sanitation for public washrooms in India.
Unclean and unhygienic toilets is a topic for discussions in the 21st century and is still a major concern. As clean, sanitised and hygienic washrooms being basic human right, not providing this facilities is a gross violation of human rights i.e. Article 21 (Right to life). These unsanitary practices lead to people defecating in the open, which further gives rise to various health issues and further. According to the survey, to start with availability of public toilets is a concern. Other issues that were encountered by the women were poor hygiene and sanitation, lack of water facility, poor infrastructure. On one hand, the majority of people consider a clean toilet is a fundamental right for women in India, on the contrary most women aren’t even aware about the laws for hygiene and sanitation for public washrooms in India.
SUGGESTIONS:
- To implement apt laws, rules and regulations for proper sanitation and hygiene of public toilets.
- To consider availability of adequate water, cleanliness, soap, adequate Indian and western toilets, regular cleanliness, sanitary napkins machines, etc.
- To spread awareness about health hazards with the aid of medical professionals and to take strict action on violation of rules regarding cleanliness.
- To make sanitation practices a priority post pandemic, as this major concern should also be a part of the fundamental rights.
- To have help-line numbers where unclean and unsanitized washrooms are witnessed and likewise actions shall be taken.
- To particularly set-up NGOs for the cause, and to conduct webinars and seminars with assistance of researchers and professionals.
- To conduct such research on a regular basis to know and work on the problem.
REFERENCES:
- Shanmugam, Gomathi (2017), WASH (water, sanitation & hygiene), International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD), Pages 575- 577.
- Bhandari, Buna (2012), A STUDY ON PERSONAL HYGIENE AND SANITARY PRACTICES IN A RURAL VILLAGE OF MORNAG DISTRICT OF NEPAL. Journal of Nobel medical college, Pages 39- 41.
Ms. Prabha Alok Sharma
Kc Law College, Churchgate.