Archive · 6 Jan 2026
Women Avoid Public Toilets in India Due to Hygiene and Safety Concerns
Many women in India avoid using public toilets because they are often dirty and unsafe.
The toilets may have soiled seats, wet floors, and bad smells, which make women worry about their health.
Additionally, women feel unsafe due to poor lighting, broken locks, and the presence of male caretakers.
Experts suggest that regular cleaning, better lighting, and having female attendants could help make public toilets safer and more comfortable for women.
Women also avoid these toilets because they lack proper facilities like soap, toilet paper, and sanitary bins.
Cultural taboos around menstruation and poor toilet design also contribute to this issue.
Women in India avoid public toilets due to hygiene and safety concerns.
Common hygiene issues include soiled seats, wet floors, and bad smells.
Safety concerns include inadequate lighting, broken locks, and male caretakers.
Experts suggest solutions like regular cleaning, better lighting, and female attendants.
Cultural taboos and poor toilet design also contribute to the avoidance of public toilets.
- Who
- Women across India
- What
- Avoid using public toilets due to hygiene and safety concerns
- When
- Ongoing issue
- Where
- Public toilets in India
- Why
- Persistent concerns over hygiene, safety, design, and inadequate facilities
- Main Reason for Avoidance
- Hygiene and safety concerns
- Common Hygiene Issues
- Soiled seats, wet floors, bad smells, lack of cleanliness
- Safety Concerns
- Inadequate lighting, broken locks, male caretakers, harassment risk
- Expert Opinions
- Ashima Sharma (Pee Safe), Prachi Kaushik (Vyomini Social Enterprise)
- Proposed Solutions
- Regular cleaning, better lighting, female attendants, personal hygiene tools
- Health Risks
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and other hygiene-related issues
- Cultural Factors
- Social stigma and discomfort around menstruation and sanitation
- Design Issues
- Lack of women-specific considerations in toilet design