42% Urban Indians Believe Availability of Public Toilets Has Improved: Survey - News18

As India marks nine years of Swachh Bharat Mission today, 42% urban citizens believe that availability of public toilets has improved since the start of the campaign, according to a LocalCircles survey. ‘30% URBAN INDIANS SEE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT’ The survey sought to know from citizens: ‘How has the availability of functional public toilets in your district/ city improved in the last 3 years?’ This query received 12,914 responses, with 52% of respondents indicating that there has been ‘no improvement’; 3% stating that the situation has in fact ‘gotten worse’; 30% felt there has been ‘significant improvement’ in the condition of public toilets in their district/city; 12% feel that the condition has ‘significantly improved’ and 3% opted for ‘can’t say’. ‘18% SAY THEY OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS USE PUBLIC TOILETS’ The next question was: ‘When you or your family have to use a toilet in public places in your city/ district, what do you generally do?’ This query received 13,701 responses, with 43% indicating that they ‘find a commercial establishment with toilet and use that’; 15% of respondents indicated that they ‘find a petrol pump with toilet and use that’; 3% find ‘a free public toilet and use that’; 15% seek clean ‘paid public toilet’ facility. 10% SAID PUBLIC TOILETS THEY USED WERE WELL-MAINTAINED ‘When you visited a public toilet maintained by the local administration in your city/ district in the past three years, how did you find the maintenance?’ This crucial question received over 12,000 responses with hardly 10% of those surveyed indicating that the public toilets are well-maintained. Data shows that while only 3% described their experience of using public toilets as ‘excellent/ nicely maintained)’ and 7% chose to describe it as ‘good/ well maintained’, the remaining were not satisfied.