Not many takers for e-toilets
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Despite a number of she-toilets being installed across the city, there are very few takers for it. Reason: Technical glitches coupled with general reluctance among some women. As many as 58 e-toilets were installed by Eram Scientific Solutions (ESS) at various public places in Thiruvananthapuram, including Museum, Shankumugham Beach, government schools and colleges and railway station. Currently, only 44 units are in service while the remaining ones have been rendered useless due to the contract issues with the clients.
“I don’t know the mechanism to use it. The fear of getting stuck inside stops me from using it,” said Rajini, who was here to visit the museum.However, another visitor Priya said she tried to insert the coin but failed to get it working. There have been some technical glitches from day-one which discouraged many. The malfunctioning of occupancy indicators, several instances of people getting caught inside due to faulty automated doors and non-availability of water in some units stops people from using it.
The faulty units were replaced by the manufacturers with a much-advanced facilities in 2016. At many places, the access to the units was made free of cost. The mobile application to track the nearest e-toilet also was introduced. Moreover, the automated door mechanism has been replaced by a manual one to ensure that people do not get trapped in the units any more.
“Foreigners and North Indians prefer e-toilets as they are used to the system. So, during tourist season, it has takers. The company which installed them looks after its maintenance so the museum authorities need not worry about it. They only have to provide electricity and water,” said Rajagopal, museum garden superintendent.
The e-toilets are provided by the company to the clients on an Annual Maintenance Contract. “The toilets are monitored by the company on a regular basis to check for various aspects including the number of people using or any technical issues like water scarcity. An alert message will be forwarded to the company for its clearance. But it wasn’t just the glitches that kept the women away from them. “They are too public’ was one of the most repeated complaints,” said Kiran Raj GK, marketing manager of ESS.
The toilets were set up at various locations based on availability of land and visibility. The units are mostly on public spaces making women uncomfortable. “There will be a huge crowd around the area, There is no privacy,” said Rakhi, a commuter.
e-toilets
E-toilets are designed with an in-built self-cleaning mechanism which flushes the toilet and washes the platform automatically. It comes with all the amenities of a proper toilet. Furthermore, the she-toilets provides a space for breastfeeding mothers, diaper changing facility, in-built incinerators for sanitary napkins and a vending machine for the same.