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Scroll.in
15-07-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
Maharashtra orders probe into NGO over report highlighting poor state of Mumbai's public toilets
Shiv Sena MLA and Maharashtra Cabinet minister Uday Samant on Monday said the state government will investigate the 'motives' of the non-profit organisation Praja Foundation, which released a report in May highlighting the poor conditions of public and community toilets in Mumbai, The Indian Express reported. In its report, Praja Foundation had said that there is only one public toilet seat for every 752 men and 1,820 women residents of Mumbai. This is much below the guidelines under the Swachh Bharat Mission, which recommends that there should be at least one public toilet seat for every 100 to 400 men and 100 to 200 women. Based on data received through Right to Information applications, the non-profit also highlighted that there is only one community toilet seat for every 86 men and 81 women. A community toilet is a shared facility meant for a defined group of residents or an entire settlement. The Swachh Bharat Mission norms prescribe one toilet for 35 men and 25 women, respectively. On Monday, Shiv Sena MLA Prakash Surve, Bharatiya Janata Party's Raj Todsam and Nationalist Congress Party (Sharadchandra Pawar) leader Rohit Pawar raised questions in the Maharashtra Assembly based on the Praja Foundation's report. In response, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that Mumbai has one toilet seat for every 46 men and 38 women. Milind Mhaske, the chief executive officer of Praja Foundation, told Scroll on Tuesday that the organisation was yet to receive a formal request or communication from the government regarding the data mentioned during the Assembly session. 'Praja remains committed to collaborate with the government to improve quality of life across our cities,' added Mhaske. Samant had claimed on Monday that the Praja Foundation's report was 'not accurate'. 'This NGO has brought out a report on availability of toilets in Mumbai,' the minister was quoted as saying by The Indian Express. 'The data given in the report is not accurate. In such cases, it leads to the defamation of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation.'
Indian Express
14-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
One male, female toilet seat caters to 46 men and 38 women in Mumbai, govt tells House
A male and a female public toilet seat in Mumbai caters to 46 men and 38 women respectively, the state government informed the legislative Assembly on Monday, indicating pressure on the city's sanitation infrastructure. This is much below the prescribed basic norms of the Swachh Bharat Mission, which recommends that each male and female toilet seat should cater to a maximum of 35 men and 25 women. The data was shared by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in a written reply during the ongoing Monsoon Session in response to a query on the rising number of civic complaints under the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Shinde's statement was in reply to questions raised by MLAs Raj Todsam (Arni), Rohit Pawar (Karjat-Jamkhed) and Prakash Surve (Magathane). The MLAs had referred to figures in a May 2025 report by Praja Foundation, which claimed that a single toilet seat is used by 86 men and 81 women in the city. The government, however, denied this, stating that Mumbai has 10,684 public toilet blocks and 1.59 lakh toilet seats, which puts the current ratio at one seat per 46 men and 38 women. The government also acknowledged that the Praja Foundation report pointed to a 70% rise in civic complaints between 2015 and 2024. In 2024 alone, the city recorded 1,15,396 complaints related to key services such as garbage disposal, pollution control, toilets, roads, and education. Compared to 2015, the report highlighted a steep increase in pollution-related complaints which are up by 334%, toilet-related complaints up by 218% and solid waste-related complaints up by 380%. Though Shinde through the written replies tabled in the house confirmed these statistics were from the Praja report, he clarified that the figures were not compiled by the government. On water access, Shinde said in his answer that Mumbai currently receives nearly 4,000 million litres per day (MLD). Residents in slum areas receive an average of 45 litres per capita per day, which is above the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) minimum of 40 LPCD, he said, citing the IS 1172:1993 standard. Responding to a specific claim that households in slum settlements spend up to Rs 750 per month on water tankers, Shinde said the issue was partially correct but did not confirm the expenditure. Earlier figures referenced by MLAs had suggested that the city's actual available water was 3,975 MLD, due to leakage losses—a point not directly addressed in the reply. With the BMC functioning under an appointed administrator since 2022, the MLAs questioned whether civic complaints were being overlooked due to the absence of elected representatives. Shinde denied this, stating that the administration was not neglecting urban services, and that complaints received through official platforms were typically resolved within 24 to 72 hours, following site inspections. He added that civic amenities were being provided as per set norms, and that BMC officials were responsive to public grievances.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
New Urban Coalition Targets Heatwaves, Climate Resilience in Delhi
The Young Leaders for Active Citizenship (YLAC) and Praja Foundation have jointly launched the Alliance for City Transformation (ACT) — a multi-sectoral coalition dedicated to enabling citizen-led, accountable, and future-ready urban governance in Delhi. Heatwaves Top the Agenda ACT's first priority is addressing heatwaves, an increasingly urgent issue as parts of Delhi recorded temperatures as high as 49°C last year. This April, the Safdarjung weather station — Delhi's base observatory — recorded three heatwave days, although none were recorded in May due to frequent rainfall. In contrast, Delhi saw six heatwave days in May 2024, with maximum temperatures exceeding 45°C. A Call for Collective Action Aparajita Bharti, Co-founder of YLAC, emphasized the need for collaborative solutions in the face of growing climate challenges. "There is an urgent need to improve the quality of life for all citizens, especially given climate change, pollution, and extreme weather events. We hope ACT becomes a platform where policymakers, businesses, philanthropists, and citizen groups work together to respond to local challenges. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Build The Thrill Event - Until 31 May Legoland Book Now Undo Such collective action has transformed cities globally," she said. Milind Mhaske, CEO of Praja Foundation, echoed the urgency: "As climate change intensifies and Delhi faces rising heatwaves and environmental threats, strengthening urban governance has never been more important. We need resilient, transparent, and participatory systems to respond effectively." Voices from the Ground At the launch event, Shakira Ben, a participant, shared the harsh realities faced by daily-wage labourers: "We work in extreme heat without access to cold drinking water or proper shade. Dispensaries offering heat-related treatment are often far from work sites. We need proper cooling measures from the government to protect us." What's Next for ACT? ACT aims to roll out: A public series of panels and dialogues on pressing urban issues. Joint representations and policy recommendations to government bodies. Multi-stakeholder partnerships to pilot innovative local solutions. By fostering collaboration across sectors, ACT seeks to build a more resilient and inclusive urban future for Delhi.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
No right to pee: How community toilets are failing Mumbai's women
The queues snaking out of the community toilets in Ambojwadi, Malvani, are the dividing line between the haves and have-nots of this slum in Malad West. They mark out those who have or don't have access to an increasingly sought-after amenity—a house latrine. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Lata Ugade, a homemaker, is one of the haves. She installed a toilet at home some years ago after she found her then teenage daughter, Pooja, had taken to reducing food and water intake to avoid using the dirty and often dysfunctional community toilet. "She grew thin and weak and had frequent mouth ulcers, stomach aches, and headaches," recalls her mother. "But all that changed when we installed a toilet." Last week, a report by Praja Foundation highlighted the shortage of public and community toilets in Mumbai. In 2023, it found, a single community toilet seat served 81 men and 83 women—more than twice and thrice the norm, respectively, recommended by Swachh Bharat Mission guidelines. As importantly, the loos were often difficult to use: 69% of the city's 6,800 community toilet blocks lacked a water connection, Praja's report found, while 60% had no electricity. In Ambojwadi, Indu Anil Magar says she leaves the door open for fear of the dark—only the corridor is lit. Women are especially affected by the lack of toilets, and at every stage of life, says Marina Joseph, associate director at YUVA, a nonprofit that helps marginalised communities. "Young girls face safety concerns if they have to defecate in the open, [while] unclean toilets have various health implications including UTIs," she notes. "Lack of a waste disposal system is challenging during menstruation. Older women and those with physical disabilities [have] to navigate toilets that are not suited to their needs. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " While men can use public toilets, facilities in their workplace, or even the roadside, women at home have fewer options, says Nasreen Khan, a beautician from Kurla East. Women who work as street vendors or domestic help also struggle—only 1 in 4 public toilets are allocated for women. That means community toilets are women's best available option, and even this facility is spurned by those who can afford it. Are Individual toilets a solution? Mumbai's community toilets are built by BMC or MHADA, with toilet seats assigned in equal numbers to men and women. Under the Slum Sanitation Programme, built toilet blocks are to be handed over to a community-based organisation (CBO) to operate and maintain. "But, in some cases, community members can't be bothered with forming a CBO. The toilet block is then managed by an individual, often with political clout," says a nonprofit worker with an M-East Ward sanitation plan. User fees are then at risk of being misappropriated. But even legitimate CBOs struggle to maintain toilets. Mankhurd's Agarwadi women-run community toilet is used by over 300 people daily and earns 10,000 a month—a sum that just about manages to cover electricity and water bills. Few CBOs have money to fix stolen taps, broken doors, and damaged lights. So is the individual toilet the solution to Mumbai's sanitation problem? The thinktank Observer Research Foundation thinks so. Its white paper on the issue says authorities must incentivise individual toilets in slums as the only "sustainable and fool-proof remedy". In Ambojwadi, which has a population of less than 60,000, individual toilets are certainly gaining ground, says Shahenshah Ansari, a resident and YUVA community organiser. And no wonder: Eight of the 23 community toilet blocks are non-functional. In one block, nine of the 20 stalls assigned to women have been roped off because they are unusable. Stalls that are functioning are filthy. The CBO running the toilet block has not been audited in a decade; with neither rod nor reward to compel maintenance, they've let the place slide. Yet, not everyone can afford to build a latrine or has room for it. Some community toilets work Some non-profits are finding ways to improve community toilets, including by focusing on behaviour change. Many slum residents are migrants with little sense of ownership of neighbourhood amenities, notes Yasmin Mulla, a director at Apnalaya. "How do you cultivate in them a sense of responsibility for this common good?" Apnalaya did this by forming 'Toilet User Groups' in Shivaji Nagar, M-East Ward, of 140-150 residents who are trained to help the community take ownership of toilet blocks. Training includes lessons on health risks, on how to use BMC helplines and follow up on complaints. The local CBO now has monthly meetings to audit expenses and review gaps in maintenance. "Earlier the toilet was cleaned only once a day; it's now cleaned three times," says Sakshi Sadanand Jadhav, who worked on the project. In Ambojwadi, YUVA has campaigned for better timings and free entry for children. But their chief demand is for a sewerage system—BMC refuses because the slum is not notified, says Ansari. Yet, there have been small wins. At one toilet, the kaccha overflow line – which is often broken, causing sewage to leak into streets and homes – was replaced with iron pipes, says Ansari. "It took one year of leaning on the BMC, but we got the job done. " (With inputs from Sharmila Ganesan)
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Climate
- Time of India
Lake stock at nearly 16%, no water cuts amid +ve forecast
Mumbai: The total water stock in the seven lakes supplying to Mumbai was 2.27 lakh million litres on Sunday, amounting to 15.75% of the required water quantum. Last year on the same date the water stock was 1.4 lakh million litres, or 9.69% of the annual requirement. The civic body this year hasn't imposed a water cut for the city yet and said it is still monitoring the situation especially in wake of a positive monsoon outlook for the next few days. Last year, a 10% water cut was imposed on Mumbaikars from June 5 onwards due to insufficient water stock in the seven lakes. The cut was withdrawn on July 29, 2024 when water stock reached a satisfactory level. The Maharashtra government approved the release of additional water for Mumbai from the contingency reserves of the Bhatsa and Upper Vaitarna dams a few months ago. Mumbai draws its daily water from seven lakes -- Tansa, Bhatsa, Modak Sagar, Tulsi, Vihar, Upper Vaitarna, and Middle Vaitarna. During the monsoon, the catchment areas of these lakes get filled and their overall stock is equated to the actual water stock of Mumbai. The lakes are located on the outskirts of Mumbai and in districts like Thane and Nashik. Only two of the smallest lakes, Tulsi and Vihar, are located within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park (SGNP) in the city, and provide 1-2% of Mumbai's needs. The maximum amount, or over 50% of the city's daily water requirement, comes from Bhatsa. According to data sourced from RTI and the Mumbai Environmental Status Report which was released last week by the NGO Praja Foundation, Mumbai faced a 15% shortfall in meeting its water demand in 2024, with a supply of 3,975 MLD against the required 4,664 MLD. —Richa Pinto
