Navya Kalesan | 25th October 2025
When we began walking through Mumbai University’s Kalina campus for our washroom audit, we expected to find familiar issues — unclean floors, broken taps, poor lighting. What we didn’t expect was how deep the problem of safety runs inside some of the university’s most frequently used buildings.
The Health Centre building, which houses departments such as Communication and Journalism, Linguistics, and Oceanography, is the first building people see on campus. But inside, its washrooms reflect something more than neglect; they show an alarming disregard for basic safety, privacy, and upkeep.
A Walkthrough That Revealed More Than Dirt
Health Centre Building
When shifting between various campus structures, it was an instant revelation that the Health Centre was the only structure that exhibited such a high level of deterioration.
In the case of most departments, the restrooms—though usually small or dark—were still functional. Doors shut properly, locks worked, and glass windows were unbroken. Nevertheless, at the Health Centre, nearly all the features meant to provide safety and privacy were either broken or non-existent.
Broken locks, cracked window frames, and missing glass panes — these were not exceptions, but rather the main things that kept happening. The entire building seemed to be forgotten, and the signs of water leaking and the smell of the air that had not been replaced for a long time were the things that took over the corridors that might have once been cared for.
When Privacy Becomes Impossible
For students, the washroom is supposed to be a space of privacy, a basic necessity on a campus that functions six days a week. But at the Health Centre building, that expectation has long collapsed.
Many of the doors on the upper floors don’t lock properly. The window glass, once meant to ensure ventilation and privacy, is shattered or missing in several stalls. The result is an uncomfortable vulnerability, especially for female students.
The Health Centre is one of those places that shows a lot of wear and tear, while other buildings have managed to maintain their facilities more than decently. All the other buildings are giving a lot of attention to the fact that they are the main problem; the neglect of the Health Centre is for all the wrong reasons. The problem is not only about the looks but also about the message that these physical flaws are sending. A broken lock or a missing pane is not just a case of overlooking the maintenance; it is an indication that the safety of women is not a concern.
The Misapprehension of Inclusion
Department of Communication & Journalism
The Health Centre is composed of various divisions, including those with co-ed loos situated on the second level. The university claims that these are inclusive facilities, but in reality, they cause discomfort for both male and female students. Where infrastructure does not provide privacy, “co-ed” becomes a compromise rather than a choice. Students tend to avoid using these washrooms unless necessary, and some prefer to leave the building entirely when they need to.
In a campus with thousands of students and staff, access to separate, safe facilities is not just a matter of convenience — it’s a matter of dignity.
Safety Isn’t Optional
Walking through the corridors, what stood out wasn’t just the decay but the silence that surrounded it. The rusted latches and broken panes have likely been there for months — maybe years.
Students should never have to worry about whether the latch will hold or whether someone might accidentally walk in because a door doesn’t close fully. These are small, daily anxieties that chip away at the sense of safety every student deserves on campus.
Other Campuses, Better Standards
French Department
In contrast, several other buildings of the Kalina campus, especially the newer or renovated ones, are the ones to set higher standards. The toilets there are cleaner, better lit, and relatively private.
The contrast poses a simple and yet urgent question: if maintenance can be effectively performed elsewhere, why not here? The issue is not a lack of capacity; it is a lack of priority.
The Health Centre’s present state indicates that even basic checks for repairs like locking and window repairs are either infrequent or non-existent.
When Neglect Feels Normal
This is a very troubling situation, and at the same time, it has become so normal that people do not react to it anymore. Students and staff go along with the daily problems, the doors that are jammed, the window panes that are missing, and so on, without expecting anything to change.
The quiet acceptance of the current situation may be the most dangerous aspect of it all. The failures of the infrastructure have become unnoticed and are practically at the surface. For a large number of users, it is better to completely bypass these areas than to wait for enhancements.
Not only is the physical safety in jeopardy, but also the psychological comfort. When even the most personal space, like a bathroom, fails to provide a sense of security, it indirectly impacts the overall campus experience of the students.
Learning from Neglect
Safety is not about adding new infrastructure. It’s about maintaining what already exists — the locks, the doors, the lighting, and the ventilation. The university’s existing Youth Policy may talk about hygiene and maintenance turnarounds, but safety deserves its own space in the conversation.
One cannot promote inclusion, gender sensitivity, or accessibility if the most basic spaces — washrooms — are unsafe or uncomfortable to use.
The Health Centre’s condition reflects the need for a safety-specific audit of all university facilities, one that goes beyond hygiene and checks for real, physical risks that compromise privacy and dignity.
Small Fixes, Big Impact
The changes that are necessary aren’t very hard. They are actually some of the most straightforward tasks that one can think of to maintain the house.
- Fix broken locks and check that all doors are properly closed.
- Put up frosted glass or install protective panels in place of the windows that are open or damaged.
- Make the maintenance team conduct regular safety checks under the administration’s supervision. Create separate washrooms for boys if the girls’ washroom is so constructed that privacy cannot be guaranteed.
- Make emergency contact numbers visible inside every bathroom for instant help.
These steps might appear to be minor, but together they communicate very powerfully – that safety is a matter of priority and that the students are not ignored.
A Responsibility Beyond Words
Universities shall have the right words for their policies; they speak about the values of inclusivity, dignity, and respect. But if the physical environment contradicts these values, the words lose their meaning.
The Health Centre building loudly proclaims that safety is not just a matter of emergency preparedness, and having security personnel is one aspect. It is a matter of minute details daily – a lock that is functioning properly, a door that is closed, and a window that gives privacy through keeping the light out. Every student deserves to walk into a washroom without fear, hesitation, or discomfort.
The Real Measure of Care
For a university that educates over 650,000 students, Mumbai University’s strength lies not only in academic achievement but in how it treats its people, its students, faculty, and staff.
Cleanliness can be fixed. Maintenance can be improved. Until every door locks, every window closes, and every student feels safe within those walls, the promise of dignity remains unfinished.
Navya Kalesan is a media researcher whose work focuses on student welfare, policy gaps, and campus experiences in higher education. She writes critically on how institutional promises often diverge from everyday realities.
