Swachhta toilets unusable, locals flush with jugaad

SURAT: In the last five years, the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) has constructed nearly 400 toilets for residents of Bhedwad Dargah and Pandesara, majority of them under the Swachh Bharat Mission. But these toilets are being used for purposes other than answering nature's call. Reason: SMC is yet to give a drainage connection for these toilets, thus rendering them useless.
Residents are left with no option but to continue with their routine of defecating in the open. Many have even converted these toilets into storerooms, bathrooms of fire places to light chullah for cooking. In many houses, residents have covered the squat toilets with tiles to use that extra space.

"I set off at daybreak for an open field to answer nature's call. It is risky and shameful, but we don't have any other option," said Beba Sejwadi, 37, who has been living in the area for the past 20 years. Her family members also defecate in the open.

Incidentally, it was on January 24 that the Union ministry for urban development had upgraded Surat's open defecation free (ODF) status to ODF++ from ODF+. As per the definition by the ministry of drinking water and sanitation, ODF-plus is an area where besides regular availability and usage of toilets, management of solid and liquid waste, cleanliness of water resources, maintenance of public and household toilets and awareness on personal hygiene are at their highest.

Many other women from the area said despite several representations, the authorities have not bothered to do anything. "Whenever we complain to ward office, the staffers promise us they will resolve the problem, but ultimately nothing happens. The civic authorities never forget to send us notices for tax dues, but tend to easily forget our difficulties," said Sunita Vagh, 30.

The residents face major problem when they have to take their children to answer the call of nature. They make them sit anywhere outside their houses. A major hygiene issue surfaces in the area regularly with mosquito menace only making it worse because at some places toilet lines are linked to open gutter. "I have to go one km daily to answer the call of nature despite having a toilet at home. The toilet can't be used because there is no drainage connection," said Sanjay Godse, 40.

When contacted, D M Jariwala, zonal officer of Udhna zone, said, "I am not aware about the issue, but I will inquire. There is no drainage network in some localities in Bhedwad."

Civic officials informed that at some locations, toilets were connected with sewage pits but once the tanks began to overflow it was back to square one.