FOR reasons known and unknown, also for reasons of inefficiency or apathy, as well as for reasons of inability to factor a critical utility component in urban thought and plan, the city of Nagpur has not been able to solve the problem of good public toilets in adequate numbers with appropriate upkeep in tune with simple norms of sanitation and hygiene. By any and every definition, this is a serious lacuna the city has been harbouring for all these years. Thanks to an opportunity to participate in an educational exercise called Vertical Studio engaging groups of students of a leading college of architecture, the loosefooter could delve a little deeper into the issue of public toilets. Fifteen groups of students had prepared models of public toilets using different academic tools and intellectual perspectives. The exercise culminated with a Panel Discussion in which the loosefooter participated. Besides being a truly good academic experience, the event provided much food for thought about the issue of public toilets in the city.

 

Though all the panelists -- including persons from civic authority, social work, medicare, and media --lauded the students’ designs and efforts, each also cautioned that the socio-cultural scenario does not hold much promise about having good public toilets since the facilities would run the risk of getting damaged by thieves and abusers. However, the loosefooter has always felt that a utility as critical as public toilets factors in urban thought and plan pretty low on the list of priorities. Thanks to that, allocation of funds, too, for the facility is on a low key all the time. Thanks to that, the city has developed a bad reputation on account of public toilets. Some social organisations and socially-oriented individuals did try to provide good public toilets here and there. However, this vast city’s requirement is much bigger than those attempts. Frankly speaking, a city of the shape and size and socio-cultural condition of Nagpur requires something like 2,500 public toilets with about 10 cubicles each for all demographic segments.

 

This number can be terribly daunting, so to say -- and probably “impractical” as many may tend to apprehend. The loosefooter does not think so. Having watched the city scene for the past five-plus decades as a journalist, he believes that the city of Nagpur has every right to ask for such a critical facility in such deserving numbers. For, only then will the city be able to keep its sanitation and hygiene levels high -- to begin with. The loosefooter is sure that he is not talking of a utopia, but a very practical and practicable expectation. However, he is also quite apprehensive that the powers that be in administration and politics, may find this expectation an impossibility -- mainly considering the size of funding and management effort it may call for. No matter that, the loosefooter will never hesitate to state what he believes in right.