Editor,
Attending to the call of nature is a challenging affair in Shillong. It’s a pity that in spite of all promises made by the Urban Affairs Minister, there is still a dearth of public toilets in the city. Even the few pay and use toilets in place at the MUDA complex, MTC bus stand etc. are filthy, soiled and mucky. The disgusting stench from such toilets discourages citizens from utilizing the so called public amenities. In the absence of such facilities, it is a common sight to see citizens’ relieving themselves in the open .This is also a very common sight on the route to most of the tourist spots within the state. A couple of places in the city reek from pungent urine odor which displeases everyone. Womenfolk are the worst affected, particularly the elderly, the sick, the disabled and the children. It is a shame that a city which boasts of a high sex ratio over and above the national average cannot provide basic civic amenities to its women. This is a gross infringement of women’s rights. Last month a huge group of friends had come over to Shillong for a vacation and they were aghast at the maintenance or lack thereof of the public toilets in Police-Bazaar which is the heart of the city. They had no choice but to coerce their bladders shut till they reached their hotels. Presence of sufficient number of clean, airy, well lit and well maintained public toilets at prominent places which have high social interaction will help to contribute to the cleanliness of the city and deck up the hygiene factor. Moreover, this will help mitigate health problems such as urinary tract infections and those suffering from an over active bladder. It will also alleviate the problems of those suffering from irritable bowel syndrome and other health problems. The Shillong Municipality should engage the services of professional organizations such as Sulabh International or identify local organizations that are willing to undertake the job to construct, operate and maintain these toilets. The Municipality could also set up makeshift toilets in various places in the city which fall within its jurisdiction. A good example are the toilets in all the malls in Delhi; clean and well maintained.
Yours etc.,
Jonathan Donald Syiemlieh,
Via email