Public toilets for women in Delhi, too few, too filthy

Health hazard for daily commuters and commuters

Despite being a fundamental necessity, the few public toilets that exist in Delhi continue to remain in a deplorable state, leaving citizens, especially women, few options but to endure unhygienic, unsafe conditions.

Over a decade after the launch of ‘Swacch Bharat’ campaign of the Indian government to promote hygenic toilets, the situation in the capital, Delhi, itself remains deplorable, not only with public toilets being far too few, but even those that exist lack basic hygiene, posing a serious health hazard to those forced to use these amenities.

While the situation is challenging for millions of daily commuters in the capital, it is especially a serious hazard for women. While sights of men relieving themselves in the open are common, everyday occurrences, all over the city, the women are forced to endure their condition or just head to the next public toilet and use it, irrespective of its cleanliness.

The state of these public toilets in the city remains a persistent issue, particularly for women who are daily workers, commuters, and residents relying on these facilities for basic hygiene.

A survey conducted by the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) in November 2020 revealed that nearly 55 pc of the public toilets inspected were either completely unusable or in a state of extreme neglect.

Unfortunately, the situation has not seen significant improvement in the past five years. Independent surveys by outlets like Newslaundry and The Patriot in 2024 and 2025 have found similarly troubling results.

Newslaundry’s audit of 16 public toilets in North West and South Delhi revealed that 11 of them had severe issues, while The Patriot reported widespread problems in facilities managed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) across East, West, South, and Central Delhi. Most MCD-run toilets were found in an appalling state, with broken fixtures, no running water, and unbearable stench, making them almost impossible to use.

“Finding a clean and safe public toilet as a woman in Delhi is a constant challenge. The lack of accessible facilities has turned what should be a basic human right into a recurring ordeal. Most public toilets are either unhygienic, poorly maintained, or outright unusable. The absence of clean floors, functional locks, proper lighting, and running water makes using them an unpleasant and, at times, unsafe experience,” Shagufta Hussain, a student living in Delhi, tells Media India Group.

In 2024, the Delhi High Court directed a third-party audit of public toilets managed by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Development Authority (DDA), and New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) following public interest litigation. Despite this ruling, the condition of these facilities continues to remain poor.

The lack of basic maintenance and sanitation has turned what should be essential public amenities into hazardous and unhygienic spaces. Despite these recurring issues, the situation continues to be overlooked, leaving many citizens, especially women to struggle with inadequate and unsanitary facilities in one of the country’s most populated, urban cities.

“Gender responsive public services are extremely important for women in urban areas, especially to access work, and public toilets are a crucial component of these public services. The presence, in adequate numbers, of clean and secure public toilets help ensure dignity, hygiene, and convenience, especially in fast-paced city environments where long commutes and extended periods away from home are common. Our surveys have revealed that that the provision of public toilets is highly inadequate,” says Sandeep Chachra, Executive Director, ActionAid Association, an NGO.

A grave challenge for women

The lack of public toilets is a significant issue for all citizens, but it is especially hazardous for women. Often, women are left with little choice but to use unhygienic facilities, risking infections, or to hold their urge to urinate until they can find a cleaner option, which itself poses health risks.

The main reason women and girls delay urination is the prevalence of dirty public toilets. According to a report by King George’s Medical University, “In India, 80 pc of women will experience a urinary tract infection at least once in their lifetime.”

“I have never used a public toilet, they are filthy. Even if it is extremely urgent, I still try to hold it in, or look for a mall or restaurant, but never a public washroom on the side of a road or even at metro stations,” Rashmi Singa, a Delhi resident, tells Media India Group.

Poorly maintained toilets either directly cause infections or force women to hold in their urine until they can reach home, leading to further medical complications, doctors warn. This issue underscores the urgent need for cleaner, more accessible public facilities to protect women’s health.

“I still recall one particularly horrible experience in Old Delhi. I was in a crowded market when I desperately needed a washroom. The public toilet nearby was an absolute nightmare filthy floors, broken doors, a nauseating stench, and no water. I felt unsafe the entire time because men were lingering nearby, and the door did not even close properly. I left feeling humiliated and disgusted, but there was no alternative. A few days later, I developed a urinary infection, which made me realise how deeply these conditions affect not only our dignity but also our health,” narrates Hussain.

The paid washrooms, typically located at metro stations, are equally in poor condition. Despite having designated cleaners and being a paid service, these facilities remain in a deplorable state.

“You would expect metro washrooms to be better maintained since they charge money, but they are just as unhygienic. It is clear that public washrooms are not maintained properly, and this makes it very difficult, especially for women, to use them,” says Mamta, a daily commuter in Delhi Metro.

The need for clean, safe, and gender-responsive public toilets has never been more urgent, but despite numerous surveys, audits, and legal rulings, the authorities continue to fall short. As a result, Delhi’s citizens, particularly women, continue to bear the consequences of neglectful governance, enduring unsanitary conditions that affect their health, dignity, and daily lives.

“City governments need to ensure much more public investment, with accountability to communities being served to ensure that not just public toilets, but gender sensitive public services are provided for all women, especially those women workers in the informal sector,” says Chachra.