On Ground Reports: Thousands Of Toilets Built Since 2014 Yet Access To Toilets Remains An Issue In The National Capital

New Delhi: With a population of almost 2 crores (census 2011), the national capital of Delhi has remained as one of the slowest performers in the government’s cleanliness survey – Swachh Survekshan, with one of its four districts (North Delhi) yet to achieve the status of Open Defecation Free. During the announcement of the Outcome Budget in 2019, the Delhi government claimed that the use of public toilets in the national capital has increased by 431 per cent in 2018-19 with over 2.93 lakh people provided access to the public toilets in the financial year 2018-2019.

As per Census-2011, Delhi needed 1,27,005 household toilets, 2,357 community toilets and 9,157 public toilets in total to provide every citizen access to hygienic sanitation facility. The ministry data claims that the national capital has achieved its target of constructing the household toilets and public toilets.

Also Read: Before And After Swachh Bharat Abhiyan: Has India Finally Managed To Provide Sanitation For All In This Decade

Local Delhi’s municipal administration is divided into four different Urban Local Bodies according to the locations – North Delhi Municipal Corporation (North MCD), East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC), South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) and New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) – all run by the Bharatiya Janta Party.

NDMC was the first civic body from Delhi to attain the ODF tag and has now achieved the ODF Plus Plus, while EDMC and SDMC became ODF in March 2019 after failing the third party verification at least twice. On the other hand, North MCD has failed the third party verification for the third time in April 2019 and remains non ODF until today.

When it comes to the slums, clusters and unorganised sectors in Delhi, the toilets are constructed and maintained by Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board, a wing of the state government.

Also Read: Deprived Of Toilets For The Longest Time, Residents Of Ludhiana In Punjab Witness A Sanitation Revolution

Despite the ‘satisfactory’ performance by the capital in construction of these toilets, access to toilets remains an issue throughout Delhi, according to experts. Ms. Jyoti Sharma, President of the not-profit organisation, FORCE, who has worked on ground to ensure toilet accessibility and has been in touch with the authorities, care takers as well as the residents.

In her opinion, the lack of coordination between the Delhi government and multiple local bodies is the most prominent barrier in ensuring sanitation facilities in the capital. This is due to the frequent political clashes between the Aam Admi Party and Bharatiya Janta Party where the interest of the public is not prioritised, she said.

As part of a special feature series, NDTV reports from the ground on various aspects of sanitation related issues in the capital.

The aspects covered in the series include introduction of pink toilets – exclusively for women, condition of public toilets through the city, access to toilets in slums and clusters.