Bhubaneshwar, Feb 15, 2012: The building bylaw in Odisha is set to undergo certain modification, keeping the "comfort" of women in mind. Taking strong note of inadequate toilets for women in public buildings and at workplace, the Union urban development department has asked the Odisha government to modify the existing building norms and make way for more number of lavatories for the fair sex.

In a letter to the state housing and urban development department on January 31, the town and country planning organization (TCPO) under Union urban development department has described the present scenario, involving availability of toilet facilities for women, as a "matter of concern". "There is a huge gap between what is available as essential toilet facilities and what is desirable," TCPO's chief planner mentioned in the letter.

"The present norms for toilets are generally in ratio of 2 men:1 woman. It needs to be revised to 1 man:1 woman. Accordingly, a revision has been proposed in the model Building Bylaws-2004," the letter said. TCPO observed that the skewed availability of public toilet facilities for women and non-existence of toilets for women in streets further compounds the problem. Read More

(Source: The Times of India)