On the occasion of World Toilet Day, celebrated worldwide on November 19, Namrata Devikar talks to Vikas Bagaria, Founder of Pee Safe, a leading company that has brought innovative sanitation products into the market like biodegradable sanitary pads, toilet seat sprays and menstrual cups. He elaborates how a change in perspectives can help India keep its public toilets cleaner and sustainable.
Q. Though we have public toilets available almost everywhere now, we still have the problem of unclean and unhygienic public toilets. How can Indians address this issue?
A. At least now, we have toilets everywhere as more and more toilets are being made. In Indian style toilets, water is required while in western-style toilets, self-discipline is important. We need to understand that we use toilets at home as well, but they are clean. There is self-discipline which is important. The perspective that we have to clean the toilet as someone else has to use it later. We need to understand that sanitising toilet before use and later is equally important. In international airports and toilets, we see a sign that reads, ‘Please wipe the sink before you leave’. I think this perspective is important.
Q. Can sanitation and hygiene be eco-friendly?
A. Yes, there are many products which are related to sanitation and are eco-friendly. For example, there are sanitary pads and then there are biodegradable sanitary pad. However, the costs of these biodegradable sanitary pads is higher as compared to the non-biodegradable. But the prices of these eco-friendly products can decrease if the demand of the pads are more. We can also look at eco-friendly alternatives such as menstrual cups. They are sustainable as well as comfortable for women.
Q. Have you ever witnessed any discomfort due to using a public toilet?
A. My wife and I were headed from Delhi to Gujarat on a road trip. We had to cut short our trip because my wife was having a high fever. When we came back to Delhi, my wife was hospitalised and she was diagnosed with a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). So while we were at the hospital, we analysed where all we went as the doctor said that the primary reason for UTI is using an unsanitised washroom where e-coli bacteria causes the infection. However, we realised that all washrooms we went to were in good hotels and were clean. So the doctor said that any washroom, which is used by more than three people is called public washroom. This is a very common scenario for many families. But this motivated us to come up with the idea of Pee Safe as well as other products.
