Sheela Singh Proposes “Pink Toilets” Initiative to Chief Secretary for Safer, More healthy and Inclusive A&N Islands

Tarun Karthick

Sri Vijaya Puram,  20 June 2025

In a big step in direction of addressing gender-specific sanitation and public well being wants throughout the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mrs. Sheela Singh, State Vice President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), met with the Chief Secretary of Andaman and Nicobar Islands to formally suggest the implementation of “Pink Toilets” throughout key areas within the islands.

During the assembly, Mrs. Singh submitted an in depth proposal outlining the significance of devoted sanitation amenities for girls and ladies, significantly in distant tribal areas and high-footfall vacationer locations. The idea of “Pink Toilets,” already efficiently applied in cities like Delhi, Dehradun, and components of Kerala, goals to supply protected, hygienic, and gender-sensitive areas for girls. These amenities sometimes embody sanitary pad merchandising machines, incinerators for protected disposal, and the presence of feminine attendants to make sure security and privateness.

Highlighting the distinctive socio-geographical challenges of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Mrs. Singh emphasised the essential want for such infrastructure to enhance menstrual hygiene, scale back open defecation, and mitigate plastic air pollution brought on by improper disposal of menstrual waste—particularly close to fragile coastal ecosystems.

The proposal additional recommends that pilot tasks be launched in tribal colleges of Nicobar and vacationer corridors reminiscent of Sri Vijaya Puram. Strategic areas together with Radhanagar Beach, Cellular Jail, ferry terminals, Jirkatang Check Post, Middle Strait Jetty, all municipal wards, and panchayat markets had been recognized as precedence areas for preliminary implementation.

Mrs. Singh additionally burdened the necessity for climate-resilient and cost-effective development strategies utilizing native supplies, reminiscent of rat-trap brick masonry, to make sure sustainability. The initiative, she famous, may very well be supported below schemes like Swachh Bharat Mission-Grameen and thru CSR partnerships, drawing inspiration from fashions reminiscent of PVR’s initiative in Delhi.

Additionally, the proposal requires a deal with neighborhood possession by involving native ladies in each development and upkeep of those amenities, not solely creating employment alternatives but in addition guaranteeing the long-term success of the initiative.

Recognizing earlier challenges confronted in different states, Mrs. Singh underlined the significance of guaranteeing free 24/7 entry and constant repairs to stop points like operational closures resulting from consumer charges.