World Toilet Day: Why do women fear visiting public loos in Hyderabad?

Even after 75 years, India lacks clean and safe toilets for women.

Many women fear entering public toilets because of safety and hygienic reasons.

"I have never used the toilets here. I complete my jog and go back home. Because of this constraint, I don't spend an extra minute in the park," says Priya (name changed), a regular jogger at the relatively new Malkam Cheruvu Park at Raidurgam.

Malkam Cheruvu still has a functional, clean toilet. Many other public spaces are either unhygienic or not safe for women.

On World toilet day, NewsMeter visited a few public parks to check on the facilities

NTR Memorial Gardens

The toilet at the NTR memorial, right beside the entrance, was locked when NewsMeter visited it on November 15. Upon inquiring, the watchman informed that it hadn't been working for a day due to a motor problem.

There was another operational bathroom on the other side of the gardens, but there was a huge rush of people.

Indira Park

The park, famous among people who come for workouts and yoga, has a functional and reasonably clean toilet.

Though there wasn't a flush, the toilet had running water.

Malkam Cheruvu Park

The park was opened in 2022 and is a hotspot for walkers, joggers, kids, and families.

This park, spread across a considerably vast area, has two toilets at a distance of about 300 meters.

The one near the entrance was open but didn't have running water.

"Water is quite erratic throughout the day," says one of the women working at the premises.

Another regular jogger. Ravi says, "The toilets are in good condition here. Yes, a few days back, there was some water issue, but that was resolved."

When spoke to a few other women joggers, they say the toilets are okay. "We are used to not expecting neat toilets," says Kavitha as a matter of fact.

The other toilet near the children's play area was functioning.

Lotus Pond Park

This popular public park at jubilee hills doesn't have a toilet at all.

The caretaker suggests: "In case of urgency, there is a private hospital just round the corner. You can use it there."

Though there is a public toilet right outside the park, it is not functioning.