Swati Maliwal sets out to repair public toilets in Delhi, 50 liters of acid caught in toilet the second day, summons issued

Delhi The Commission for Women has been receiving several complaints regarding issues related to public toilets for women and girls in various areas of Delhi. In such a situation, Swati Maliwal, Chairperson of the Delhi Women’s Commission along with members Firdous Khan and Vandana Singh, along with a team of the Commission has gone to the mission toilet. On the second day of this mission, Swati inspected Municipal Corporation toilets in Daryaganj area (in front of GB Pant Hospital Gate No. 8). Where Rs 10 was being charged from the users for using the toilet. The commission was also told that the toilet is closed at 10 pm, leaving women and girls vulnerable to open defecation.

After this, during the search of the commission, a huge quantity of acid was also found kept in the open in the same toilet. The Commission informed the Delhi Police about the matter and a 50 liter container filled with acid was seized by them from the toilet. The caretaker said that acid was being used to clean the toilets and was given every 2 months by his superiors.

The commission found that two toilet complexes of MCD on the same road (opposite GB Pant Hospital) are locked. Local people and Delhi Police officials said that the toilet complex has been locked for several months, causing problems to women and girls. It is also a waste of government resources.

Delhi Women’s Commission Chairperson Swati Maliwal has issued summons to the municipal officials and sought a report in the matter. The commission has asked about the reasons for the use of acid for cleaning public toilets as well as the action taken against the officials responsible for the use of acid in public toilets. Commission seeks information from MCD regarding guidelines issued against use of acid for cleaning public toilets and steps taken by them to stop use of acid in cleaning toilets, asks them to fix accountability . The commission has summoned the officials to appear with a copy of the bills from which the acid was purchased and also give information about the amount disbursed by the MCD for the maintenance of the said toilet.

Apart from this, the commission has asked the reason for charging a usage fee of Rs 10. A copy of the guidelines/rules regarding user fee for public toilets has also been sought. The commission has also asked the reason for keeping the MCD toilet complexes closed and sought action against the officials for wastage of public resources. The chairperson of the commission has asked the officials of the municipal corporation to appear before the commission on April 11 with a detailed report in the matter.

Delhi Commission for Women Chairperson Swati Maliwal said, ‘I am shocked to see acid being kept in the open in a public toilet in central Delhi in huge quantities. People could use it for criminal activities. The use of acid for cleaning public toilets on a large scale is unacceptable and shameful. Strict action should be taken against the officials promoting the use of acid for cleaning toilets. Also there should be no user fee for using the toilet. All toilets should be functional all the time and if any toilet is not working, strict action should be taken against the officials responsible for it.

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Tags: acid, Delhi Commission for Women, Swati Maliwal