Women in queues bemoan lack of loos

Mumbai: Standing in long queues for hours outside banks is making the city’s women feel uncomfortable due to the unavailability of mobile toilet vans. Doctors say this can harm their health, since holding a full bladder for too long can lead to serious ailments.

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, meanwhile, have shrugged off responsibility, saying they can provide mobile toilet vans only if asked for the same.

Priya Wagal (48) complained to The Asian Age about having to stand in line for hours without any available toilets. “I was standing in queue outside an ATM for almost five-six hours, but there was no urinal or toilets available for ladies,” she said.

Ankita Shirke, a student, added: “This is not fair. The government should have organised for mobile toilet vans, especially for women. It’s difficult for us to find normal washrooms.”

Meanwhile, Dr Ganesh Sanap, a nephrologist, said: “The longer you hold your urine, the more your bladder becomes a breeding ground for bacteria to grow. These bacteria can lead to various infections, which can spread to the kidneys and cause major damage to the body.”

Nonetheless, shrugging the matter off, deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management) Vijay Balamwar said, “If a bank or any one else approaches us, we will provide them with mobile toilet vans.”

On her part, activist Mumtaz Shaikh of the ‘Right to Pee’ campaign said, “There have been long queues after the demonetisation move was made. But the BMC has failed to provide mobile toilet vans. This is our basic right and we have been deprived of it.”