UNFOLDING THE ISSUES OF PUBLIC TOILET IN TRANSFORMING URBAN SCENARIO

Women, as the majority of the population, the elderly, and disabled people need adequate free public toilet provision as a basic equal right. Women constitute 80% of shoppers so the provision of good toilet facilities in retail areas and town centers will increase the revenue and profitability of that area and contribute to national prosperity. Providing public toilets will encourage more people to travel by public transport, to walk and to cycle without fear of being caught short. This will contribute towards reducing pollution, creating a greener environment, and sustainable cities. Culturally, providing adequate toilets at all hours will facilitate the development of the 24-hour city, help clean up the streets and alleyways and contribute to citizen choice, freedom, and the quality of life. Good toilet design will contribute to improving the urban design and architectural quality of our towns and cities, thus making our cities more attractive and raising their profile with huge beneficial social and economic spin-offs. A nation’s image is judged by its toilets as they are often the first thing that tourists see when traveling to a country. Adequate public toilets will increase tourism and benefit the whole economy. The state of public toilets is an indication of the state of the government and the nation as a whole. Neglected slovenly conditions generate more crime and vandalism. As one of the few ‘public’ facilities located out in the community, they act as an emblem that is an outward and visible sign of the state of society and the government itself. Closing them because of damage condones vandalism. It is legally indefensible to provide such discriminatory levels of services for women. It is politically important to improve public toilets because the majority of the electorate (60% are women) worry about them. It would be a sign that politicians were concerned about social inclusion and accountability, and were operating joined-up thinking. One of the conclusions is that to facilitate the ‘coming through’ of alternative people and values, to alter the nature of the policies and the professions that shape the built environment, great changes are still needed within the structures of higher education and professional practice. The study was conducted to design solutions for effective public toilets in cities. The study has been able to accomplish its objectives, by thoroughly analyzing and identifying the usage rate and satisfaction among public toilet users and how the lack of toilets in public spaces affect the people. The outcome of the study has proved that there is a need for more public toilets at different places like city markets, highways, tourist spots, etc. And also, the toilets should be clean and hygienic and should be placed at every 5-6 km. distance. It is concluded that the Government could initiate various steps based on the recommendations given in this report. The Government by adopting some of the recommendations should ensure that the public toilets are operating as per the guidelines.