Navi Mumbai APMC women’s toilet being used by men, raising access concerns

A toilet meant for women is also being used by men at the Navi Mumbai Agricultural Produce Market Committee APMC raising questions over access control and monitoring at one of Mumbairsquos busiest wholesale markets The concern is particularly serious in the vegetable and fruit markets where several facilities remain operational around the clock due to the continuous movement of traders workers transporters and customersMen are seen exiting the womenrsquos toilet at Navi Mumbai APMCmidday contacted APMC officials to comment on the alleged misuse of womenrsquos toilets maintenance arrangements water supply access control and action taken against encroachments APMC Chairman Jaykumar Rawal did not respond to calls and messages till press timeSame issue across marketsThe spice market which sees heavy footfall particularly during festive periods has also witnessed complaints about foul smell and waterrelated problems Traders claim that in some locations wastewater has affected surrounding areas There are also allegations of encroachments around some toilet premises with small shops offices and storage crates occupying spaces around the facilities potentially affecting access and cleanlinessA badly maintained womenrsquos toilet at the Navi Mumbai APMC PICSBY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTBurning questionsThe maintenance of these toilets is understood to be handled through a contractual arrangement This raises questions over whether the contractorrsquos performance is regularly audited whether service standards are checked and whether penalties are imposed when contractual conditions are not metInfrastructure in placeAccording to information available APMCrsquos five market areas have 52 public toilets The vegetable and fruit markets have 10 public toilets while the spice market has 21 public toilets The onionpotato market has seven public toilets and the grain market has two public toilets Another seven public toilets are located in the additional shopcumgodown area Despite this infrastructure traders complain of foul smell inadequate water supply poor cleaning and maintenance issuesAccountability neededThe issue also assumes significance against the backdrop of an earlier AntiCorruption Bureau ACB action involving an official associated with APMCrsquos sanitation department Traders now want the administration to establish clear accountability for sanitation and maintenance Traders assert that meetings notices and circulars wonrsquot resolve the issue The real test they say is whether a woman entering APMC can find a toilet that is clean functional safe and actually reserved for womenThe bigger problemHarishankar Chaurasia trader in fruit marketlsquoThere are several issues with the toilets Cleanliness water availability and maintenance are all concerns APMC is a major market where thousands of people come every day Women should have access to a clean and separate toilet without having to worry about who else is using itrsquoRupesh Mule traderlsquoThere are toilets but the question is whether they are being properly maintained and monitored If a toilet is marked for women there should be proper arrangements to ensure that it remains accessible and safe for womenrsquoManohar Totlani trader in onionpotato marketlsquoThere are multiple issues that need attention A toilet may be available on paper but what matters is whether it is clean whether there is water and whether it can actually be used comfortably These facilities need regular monitoringrsquoShyam Yeshwant Narawade traderlsquoPeople come here from different parts of the state They expect basic facilities in a market of this scale Toilets should be clean functional and properly managed throughout the day There should also be proper segregation for womenrsquolsquoA healthy market needs clean toiletsrsquoMadhu Shankar Navi Mumbaibased social activistlsquoVashi APMC is Asiarsquos largest wholesale market with thousands of vendors and customers visiting daily If basic sanitation is not maintained here it will directly impact the health of vendors traders and citizens Authorities must immediately clean repair and deploy security so that ladiesrsquo toilets are protected and used only by women Heavy penalties should be imposed for misuse A healthy market needs clean toiletsrsquoFatma Bharde advocacy journalistlsquoI never use the toilets when I visit the APMC market as in my experience they are not maintained and itrsquos better to avoid using themrsquopopcorn number52 descTotal no of toilets at Navi Mumbai APMC classDefault