‘Pink toilet’ inaugurated near Benz Circle in Vijayawada
The Hindu
‘Pink toilet’ inaugurated near Benz Circle in Vijayawada. Constructed at a cost of ₹20 lakh, it caters to the needs of women employees, travellers, and college students. Municipal Commissioner Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar said the facility would be maintained by women.
For the convenience of women, Vijayawada Mayor Rayana Bhagyalakshmi inaugurated the Pink Toilet, an exclusive facility for women near the Benz Circle, on Friday.
Constructed at a cost of ₹20 lakh, these toilets would cater to the needs of women employees, travellers, and college students passing through the area.
Municipal Commissioner Swapnil Dinkar Pundkar said the facility would be maintained by women. It would provide clean and safe option for the women in the vicinity. On the occasion of World Toilet Day on November 19, the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) initiated awareness programmes on proper usage of public toilets.
Referring to the ‘Open Defecation-Free City Plus Plus’ accreditation from the government, he said it acknowledged the city’s commitment to providing public toilets.
“The ‘Plus Plus’ indicates the commendable practice of recycling wastewater by the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation, contributing to sustainable and responsible water management,” he said.
Deputy Mayor Bellam Durga, corporators Shaheena Sulthana, Pravallika and A. Nirmala Kumari, and YSRCP Vijayawada Central constituency incharge Devineni Avinash were present.
More than 2.6 lakh village and ward volunteers in Andhra Pradesh, once celebrated as the government’s grassroots champions for their crucial role in implementing welfare schemes, are now in a dilemma after learning that their tenure has not been renewed after August 2023 even though they have been paid honoraria till June 2024. Disowned by both YSRCP, which was in power when they were appointed, and the current ruling TDP, which made a poll promise to double their pay, these former volunteers are ruing the day they signed up for the role which they don’t know if even still exists