A ‘call’ that they can do without
By Asha P Nair
03rd November 2010 12:53 AM
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ever had loo blues? When you wanted to desperately answer the Call of Nature, but had to squeeze your knees to not let that happen? Because, there was no loo around or the only one was being used? If no, then you are luckier than the elected women representatives of the City Corporation. For, they might have to face it, one day or the other.
Women councillors have a bathroom attached to the restroom given to them in the Corporation main office. The restroom remains closed half the time. When it is opened on Council days, it is often occupied by males. Sometimes, it is used as a dumping place where large cardboard boxes of files or office materials are stored. Other times, it is turned into a census office or election office or whatever as the need arises.
It has remained a great demand from the part of women councillors that the restroom and bathroom for women members be left to them. Though there are bathrooms attached to some of the Standing Committee offices, many women councillors are reluctant to use them. The only one they have is not at all women-friendly, but often used for the sake of it.
‘’I had many a time approached the then Mayor and Corporation Secretary saying we need to be given the restroom to ourselves. It’s OK for the young ones, but for people who come from a bit far, or straight from offices to attend the Council or for the aged, it is a major discomfort. But officials think it is a matter with only one or two because many women do not speak out. Especially, the CPM councillors,’’ said former Karamana councillor V G Latha, who had once stood up in the Council to demand more bathrooms for women members. Giggles and chuckles met her then.
But now that the Council has 53 women members, the single loo might turn into double trouble. Like one councillor jestingly said, ‘’it’s like the single seat majority, might cause a commotion anytime.’’
However, it is true that many of the LDF councillors we talked to put the women part aside and talked in a ‘broader’ way. ‘’There are bathrooms in the upper floors. We can use them,’’ one of them said.
‘’Only on the Council day do all members turn up. You are not there to pee all the time,’’ another said.
Mayor-designate K Chandrika said that the bathroom is clean and usable and always available to women. ‘’There is a space constraint in the Corporation office, as you know. But we have not experienced any trouble because there is only one bathroom,’’ she said.
With another room urgently needed to accommodate one more Standing Committee office which is being created for the first time, women members are praying that their restroom is saved from invasion.
asha.nair@expressbuzz.com
Women councillors have a bathroom attached to the restroom given to them in the Corporation main office. The restroom remains closed half the time. When it is opened on Council days, it is often occupied by males. Sometimes, it is used as a dumping place where large cardboard boxes of files or office materials are stored. Other times, it is turned into a census office or election office or whatever as the need arises.
It has remained a great demand from the part of women councillors that the restroom and bathroom for women members be left to them. Though there are bathrooms attached to some of the Standing Committee offices, many women councillors are reluctant to use them. The only one they have is not at all women-friendly, but often used for the sake of it.
‘’I had many a time approached the then Mayor and Corporation Secretary saying we need to be given the restroom to ourselves. It’s OK for the young ones, but for people who come from a bit far, or straight from offices to attend the Council or for the aged, it is a major discomfort. But officials think it is a matter with only one or two because many women do not speak out. Especially, the CPM councillors,’’ said former Karamana councillor V G Latha, who had once stood up in the Council to demand more bathrooms for women members. Giggles and chuckles met her then.
But now that the Council has 53 women members, the single loo might turn into double trouble. Like one councillor jestingly said, ‘’it’s like the single seat majority, might cause a commotion anytime.’’
However, it is true that many of the LDF councillors we talked to put the women part aside and talked in a ‘broader’ way. ‘’There are bathrooms in the upper floors. We can use them,’’ one of them said.
‘’Only on the Council day do all members turn up. You are not there to pee all the time,’’ another said.
Mayor-designate K Chandrika said that the bathroom is clean and usable and always available to women. ‘’There is a space constraint in the Corporation office, as you know. But we have not experienced any trouble because there is only one bathroom,’’ she said.
With another room urgently needed to accommodate one more Standing Committee office which is being created for the first time, women members are praying that their restroom is saved from invasion.
asha.nair@expressbuzz.com
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