Mumbai: The rules are different for men and women in Mumbai when it comes to answering the call of nature. While men can choose to relieve themselves wherever they feel like without shelling out a paisa, women have to find a toilet and pay to use it.

"Why are you charging us when it is free for men?" a woman social worker asked a male attendant at a Sulabh Shauchalaya.

The answer was downright humiliating. "How do we know what you are doing behind closed doors?"

At least 35 NGOs decided not to take things lying down. Everyone has the "Right to Pee", and it is up to the BMC to ensure that people are not discriminated on grounds of gender.

The BMC does have a rule though: no one should be charged. When the NGOs recently met BMC officials with a copy of the rule, they were assured that matters would be set right within 10 days. If the BMC fails, the NGOs will take to the streets to protest against the discrimination.

The Right to Pee campaign of the NGOs demands free and hygienic toilets for women at public places in the city. In fact, there should be toilets specifically for women with facilities to change and dispose of sanitary pads. Also, there should be vending machines for sanitary pads. The NGOs have demanded that the BMC build such a toilet as a pilot project at any of the busy stations like Dadar or Churchgate or Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

"A 2003 government resolution and a BMC circular in March this year say men and women can use public toilets free of charge," Rahul Gaikwad from the Committee of Resources Organisation, one of the 35 NGOs, said. "But women have to pay for using toilets. And we object to this gender bias. The BMC should ensure that public toilets have women attendants."

Usha Kale from Apnalaya, NGO working for women's rights, said the fact that "women can use the toilet free of charge should be displayed clearly".
An official from the BMC's solid waste management department said there are "1,755 public toilets in the city and the ratio of toilet blocks between men and women is 80 and 20," he said. "Shortage of blocks and the liberal use of water are often cited as reasons for charging a fee," he said.

The BMC will launch a joint survey with representatives of the NGOs on November 14 to identify the problems and work out a solution.

"Once the survey is over, the BMC will decide on the pilot project," he said. At least 10 BMC wards will be surveyed over 10 days.

Rahul Shevale, standing committee chairman, said the BMC is planning to build dedicated toilets for women within every 2km in the city. "The toilets will be handed over to the NGOs for maintenance and management."