To rid slums of open defecation, 495 community toilets opened across city

As many as 495 community toilets were simultaneously inaugurated across Delhi by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Sunday.

The toilet complexes were taken over from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and renovated by the Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB). The move is seen vital, with a view for the upcoming MCD polls due next year.

The government has termed it a major step towards making the National Capital open defecation free (ODF). DSUIB had last year claimed to have built 4,119 toilet seats.

This year, the board plans to make the JJ Clusters ODF and has set a target of providing 10,000 toilet seats.

Speaking on the occasion, Sisodia announced that DUSIB will complete its ambitious target of setting up 10,000 community toilets by March 31, 2017. He added that it will help people living in slums to ease out with dignity and make their bastis ODF zones.

“To eradicate poverty, we have to ensure there is cleanliness. Contractors should now ensure that the cleanliness of these toilets is maintained at all times. By March 2017, Delhi should be firmly on track to ensure it is open defecation free,” he said.

Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain said: “It is good that these toilets will be shown under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. Our main aim is to provide the people with a good service.”

These community toilets are located in Wazirpur, Model Town, Moti Nagar, Jangpura, Kamla Nehru Camp, Kirti Nagar, Jeevan Nagar, Rajinder Nagar, Matiala and Timarpur.

According to a government communiqué, DUSIB has also launched a drive to improve the quality of maintenance, repair, upgradation of the existing toilets in JJ Bastis and augmentation by constructing new toilets (one seat for 30 persons) as per Swachh Bharat Mission norms to make these bastis open defecation free.

It also noted that DUSIB has carried out a survey with the help of its engineering team, which went around in all the JJ Bastis from 5 am to 8 am on three consecutive days and 253 open defecation spots were identified.

Accordingly, a gap analysis was carried out and more than 15,000 toilet seats are required to make JJ bastis ODF.

There are 17,405 toilet seats already available, including nearby MCD toilets, which serve the Slum population, the communiqué said.

“Sisodia, along with Urban Development Minister Satyendar Jain, DUSIB CEO Dr VK Jain and other senior officials, visited community toilets at Z-Block, Loha Mandi, Naraina Industrial Area and Chander Shekhar Azad Colony, Wazirpur Industrial Area to inaugurate the community toilets in Jhuggi Jhompri Bastis of these areas,” the communiqué informed.

To ensure strict monitoring of the toilet complexes, exclusive teams for regular inspections will be 

deployed and an expert member has been entrusted the work of monitoring the operation and maintenance of these complexes.

Operation and maintenance (cleanliness and sanitation) will be improved in all the toilet complexes in slum bastis. Monitoring of all the toilet complexes will be done through in-house team of dedicated staff and designated mobile app.

The prefabricated toilet cubicles have also been improved by providing ceramic WC seat and aluminium chequered plate flooring, which will make more hygienic and durable.

Similarly, water has been taken to each toilet seat and flushing system has also been provided as per feasibility.

Each toilet complex has been assigned a unique ID for its proper maintenance and upkeep.