Sonam Kapoor Inaugurates Mumbai’s First All-Women Toilet That Has Been Constructed By Former Norwegian Prison Inmates, Says It Is A Step To Safe Sanitation

New Delhi: Actress Sonam Kapoor recently inaugurated Mumbai’s first all-women toilet and sanitation facility at Mumbai Central Station, posting the picture of the toilet complex on her Twitter, the ‘PadMan’ actress said, “I am proud to announce the opening of the first only Women’s Toilet facility at Mumbai Central Station! Hope this will serve as another step forward in our women’s right to clean and safe sanitation.”

Apart from being Mumbai’s first ever women only toilet complex, what’s makes this toilet different is the fact that it has been constructed by Norwegian ex-junkies and drug addicts. Yes, you heard it right!

15 former drug addicts and convicts including five women came up with an idea to build an all-women’s sanitation facility in Mumbai and with the help of Norway-based NGO, ‘Back In The Ring’ (BITR), which these ex-convicts joined at different stages in their life, they made their idea into a reality.  The 15-member team diligently worked for months towards building this toilet complex that comprises of seven toilet blocks and has been constructed at the cost of Rs. 20 lakh.

From monitoring the overall toilet construction process to undertaking manual construction work like cutting stones, drilling walls of cement and gathering raw construction material, these ex-junkies did it all.

The toilet also has a sanitary napkin vending machine; it has been contributed by Yuva Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray.

Currently, the city has about 1,200 public toilets for both males and females, and Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Ajoy Mehta has granted a permission to construct 10 more such women-only toilets in the city. It is expected that the next exclusive toilet for women will open up at Marine Drive.

Sonam Kapoor, recently was also part of a short video along with her PadMan co-star Akshay Kumar, #AbSamjhautaNahin, where she stressed on the fact that it is important for every one of us to come forward and help provide low cost sanitary napkins to underprivileged women. The actor also urged individuals to donate money for the underprivileged women of the country saying, a donation of Rs. 400 can provide a year-long supply of sanitary pads to women in various parts of the country.

The actor also feels that cinema right now is the biggest medium to reach people and educate them about malpractices, she says,

Ignorance towards menstrual hygiene is baffling in India. And, Cinema right now is the largest medium, if it is made on issues that are pertinent, it can make a big difference.