Her little concern!

She was attending a meeting. The air conditioned hall was full of her colleagues both men and women. Tea was served in between the meeting, she usually liked tea, but today, she refused politely. She knew this meeting would go on for at least an hour more. Her concentration was diverted from the meeting and she checked her watch very frequently as if she wanted to finish this meeting quickly. She seemed liked she had some stress. Something was continuously running at back of her mind.

‘Her’ reason for getting distracted was very simple and natural. Her bladder was full and getting up and walking towards toilet in presence of her colleagues was awkward for her. Although her male colleagues frequented their visits towards the toilet for the well deserved bio-break after consuming tea, she resisted and kept seated. We find many such ‘HER’ who avoid using ‘HERS’ just because using toilets has been culturally associated with shame, embarrassment and indignity.

Using a toilet also has many connotations associated to it at all levels.  Just the presence of different toilets for male and female, in fact the presence of toilet in itself is not the solution.  Are the toilets clean? Does the toilet have enough water? Does the toilet and way towards it have lights, is safe and private? And what if she has to relieve her in open? The open toilet means either to find a secluded place or wait till dark to do so. It also means fear for personal safety from eve teasers, trespassers, animals, snakes and insects.

The reasons for open defecation may be numerous, ranging from unavailability of toilets, unavailability of water and light, lack of cleanliness and long waiting time. Migrants and travellers have no option than relieving in open due to unavailability of usable enclosed toilets. All such reasons reportedly makes a woman feel worried, rushed, irritated, depressed and tensed which in turn affects her overall health. A recent study in Vadu, India ¹, talked about the psychosocial stress associated with sanitation practices and stress caused due to fear, lack of cleanliness and community pressure.

It would be easier to make India open defecation free, if the stressors of a woman associated with use of toilets would be considered; such that no one hesitates to use available toilets. And try to make no fuss out of using the toilets as the way we don't when we drink water or eat food. 
After all, it is her little concern which if addressed could relieve her of a huge stress and give her a healthy living.

^1. Hirve, S. et al. Psychosocial stress associated with sanitation practices: experiences of women in a rural community in India. J. Water, Sanit. Hyg. Dev. 5, 115 (2015).