The Times of India             24.09.2013

Corporation to replace automatic doors on Kozhikode's e-toilets

KOZHIKODE: The automatic doors on the coin-operated electronic toilets set up for women in Kozhikode corporation will soon be replaced with manual doors.

The civic authorities have decided to replace the automatic doors of the e-toilets with manual ones in the wake of lukewarm response to the 15 e-toilets set up in the city. The civic body has asked the Thiruvananthapuram-based company, which implemented the project, to replace the doors many women refrain from using the facility due to fear of getting trapped inside.

Launched with much fanfare, the e-toilet project turned out to be a disappointment mainly due to fears of getting trapped inside and also due to unavailability of water. Eram Scientific Solutions, which had erected the e-toilets is expected to carry out the replacement in a month.

The civic body had erected the toilets for women after demands for privacy of women. The issue cropped up after an employee of a private hotel in the city was, in 2010, caught red-handed for fixing a camera in the women's toilet in the hotel.

The civic body had then erected fifteen toilets for women on the basis of a direction from the ombudsman to local self-government institutions.

E-toilets were installed at Cheruvannur, Beypore, Karaparamba, Lorry stand, Oyitty Road, Pavangad, Beach, Mananchira, two at the corporation stadium, three at Kozhikode medical college and two at Muthalakulam.

According to corporation authorities, only about 100-150 women use the toilets situated on the busy Oyitty road each day. The other e-toilets are used very rarely.

"The automatic doors actually keep us away from the e-toilets. There were instances when we found it difficult to open the door once we entered inside. We prefer manual doors so there is no fear of getting trapped inside," said N K Sajisha, a native of Athanikkal. "The women will start using the toilets if the authorities replace the existing automatic doors with manual ones," she said.

M Radhakrishnan, social welfare standing committee chairman said the civic body, during a discussion held with the company representatives, had conveyed the matter. "Only a small section of women are using the e-toilets. The company has agreed to replace the automatic doors with manual ones. We have also told asked them to ensure availability of water in the toilets," he said.