Shreya Roy | 24th August 2025
I still recall the day when a German tourist approached me on the street in Kolkata, both embarrassed and perplexed. She held a city map in her hand and, muttering in broken English, asked, “Public toilet… where?”
I gestured toward the closest one—a tin-roofed hut hidden behind the market. Moments later, she returned, disappointed: “No water, very dirty,” she whispered before rushing into a café instead.
That fleeting encounter reminded me of something most Indians notice but rarely discuss—the lack of clean, accessible public washrooms. In markets, bus stops, railway stations, and even highways, lakhs of people every day are forced to “manage” in ways that compromise dignity and public health. For women, children, the elderly, and the disabled, the absence of hygienic toilets is not just inconvenient—it is unsafe.
Why Public Toilets Matter in India
Public washrooms are more than infrastructure; they are a cornerstone of public health and sanitation. A hygienic toilet is not a luxury—it prevents diseases like diarrhoea, cholera, and hepatitis, which spread rapidly in unclean environments. In India, where thousands may share a single facility in a day, cleanliness can make or break public health systems.
When you walk into a well-maintained washroom—clean floors, fresh air, disinfected basins, and running water—it’s not just comfort, it’s safety. Unfortunately, such facilities remain the exception, not the norm.
The Challenge of Hygiene and Maintenance
Many public toilets in India fail not because they weren’t built, but because they weren’t maintained. A missed cleaning schedule in a busy railway station can undo weeks of upkeep. Ideally, crowded facilities should be disinfected every few hours.
The reality? Most toilets are built without assured water supply or sewage connections. Without water, flushing and handwashing become impossible, turning restrooms into hotspots of contamination.
One highway rest stop in Maharashtra looked brand new—but the taps were dry. As the caretaker admitted, “Water tanker comes only once a week.” A washroom without water is like a restaurant without food—pointless.
Location, Safety, and Accessibility
A clean washroom hidden in a dark corner is still unusable for women or the elderly. Public toilets must be placed in well-lit, open areas with clear signage. Accessibility features like ramps, wide doors, grab bars, and gender-neutral facilities should be mandatory.
Unfortunately, most public washrooms in India ignore the needs of persons with disabilities, making them unusable for a large part of the population. Women’s washrooms also require more cubicles than men’s due to longer usage times—a matter of fairness, not luxury.
Mothers often struggle because baby-changing stations are almost non-existent in public facilities.
Public–Private Partnerships: A Way Forward
Even the best-built toilet can fall apart without dedicated maintenance, security, and cleaning staff. Vandalism, graffiti, theft, and misuse are common. To tackle this, Indian cities increasingly turn to public–private partnerships (PPP). Private firms maintain toilets in exchange for advertising rights or small usage fees.
Yes, there are debates around charging ₹2–₹5 per use. But evidence shows that a small fee often ensures better hygiene. In high-footfall tourist areas, these charges can be subsidised by local governments to keep toilets both clean and accessible.
Technology and Smart Sanitation
The future of public toilets in India lies in smart hygiene solutions. Sensor taps and flush systems reduce germ transfer. IoT-enabled monitoring devices can alert cleaning teams when a facility requires maintenance. Some Indian cities are already experimenting with these models.
Yet, technology alone cannot succeed without public responsibility. Posters, awareness campaigns, and hygiene education are just as critical. If users treat toilets with care—avoiding littering, clogging, or vandalising—the entire system becomes sustainable.
Success Stories in India
India does have shining examples. Sulabh International has built thousands of pay-and-use toilets across the country, fitted with biogas-linked waste treatment systems, caretakers, and cleaning staff. These facilities prove that when sanitation is prioritised, dignity follows.
If only I had been able to direct that German tourist to one such Sulabh centre, she might have left with a better impression of India’s hospitality and infrastructure.
Toilets as a Measure of Civilization
A public toilet is not an afterthought—it is a reflection of how much a city values its residents and visitors. Every Indian, regardless of age, income, or ability, needs a toilet each day. That basic human act should not bring fear, disgust, or indignity.
Creating clean, safe, and accessible public washrooms in India requires more than budgets. It demands vision, public-private collaboration, responsible citizens, and government accountability.
As Sulabh and other models have shown, it is possible. And maybe one day, in every Indian city, the question “Where is the nearest toilet?” will be answered confidently—with directions to a facility anyone would feel comfortable using.
Shreya Roy is a writer and social issues commentator focusing on urban infrastructure, public health, and community well-being in India. She highlights grassroots challenges while exploring sustainable solutions.
