UP Women’s Toilet Built Under Swachh Bharat Remains Locked in Village

A report by Rajat Malhotra from Chandausi has highlighted the condition of a women’s sanitation complex in Paigarfatpur village, raising questions over the implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural).

While the Centre and the state government are making major claims about Swachh Survekshan 2025-26 and promoting the slogan “एक कदम स्वच्छता की ओर” (“One step towards cleanliness”), the situation on the ground in Block Baniyakheda’s Gram Panchayat Paigarfatpur appears different.

The women’s sanitation complex, built at a cost of lakhs of rupees, has currently been reduced to a showpiece. A photograph taken at the spot clearly shows a lock hanging on the main gate of the complex.

Large letters have been written on the walls of the facility. However, the reality is that the complex remains closed. A board at the site carries the words “केवल महिलाओं के लिये” (“Only for women”), but women are unable to use the facility.

Rural women said that the toilet remains closed most of the time. They said this causes them difficulties, as the facility built for their use is not available when needed.

Local residents are also expressing anger over the situation. There is discussion among villagers that the complex, built by the Panchayati Raj Department under the Swachh Bharat Mission, is clean only on paper and on the walls.

Residents have questioned how a cleanliness campaign can succeed if a facility built after spending lakhs of rupees continues to remain locked. They have demanded that the district administration and the block administration ensure that the women’s sanitation complex is opened regularly.

The villagers have also sought proper cleaning arrangements at the complex and action against those responsible for keeping it closed. The situation has raised a direct question about the preparations for Swachh Survekshan 2025-26: “Is this the preparation for Swachh Survekshan 2025-26?”

When an attempt was made to speak to village secretary Ram Babu, he reportedly said he was in a meeting and could not speak about the matter at that time. He then disconnected the call, saying, “में इस समय मीटिंग में हूँ,और अभी में इस वारे में बात नहीं कर सकता हूँ” (“I am in a meeting at the moment, and I cannot talk about this right now”).