Government Engagement: Sanitation Infrastructure for Women, Trans, and Queer Persons in Public Spaces, Kolkata

Azad’s belief in an ecosystem approach to change recognizes the diverse identities of women and ensures that every system along their journey from home to public spaces becomes enabling and inclusive.

This commitment to ecosystem-building led Azad to study the “Access to Public Toilets for Women, Trans and Queer People in Kolkata”, in collaboration with the Sabar Institute. The study aimed to understand the critical link between women’s mobility, economic participation and their access to sanitation and hygiene facilities. Surveying 7,578 cis women and 38 trans/queer persons, the study revealed that women in informal and non-traditional livelihoods such as vendors, domestic workers, and drivers spend nearly 10% of their daily income on public toilets that are often unsafe, unhygienic, and lacking in dignity.

The study recommendations focus on improving infrastructure and availability of toilets in proportion to footfall, ensuring inclusivity through gender-expansive designs with clear signage, enhancing safety by stationing women staff outside toilets and ensuring adequate lighting, and strengthening monitoring and hygiene standards through independent supervision, continuous water supply, handwashing facilities, and sanitary napkin vending machines and disposal facilities.

To further build on this study, Azad Foundation and Sabar Institute are jointly engaging with the government, civil society and academia in Kolkata for gender-inclusive public spaces.

Meeting with Sh. Firhad Hakim, Honourable Mayor of Kolkata

On 29 Aug’2025, Mousumi Sarkar (State Lead, Kolkata, Azad Foundation) and Sabir Ahamed (Convenor, Sabar Institute and Programme Director, Pratichi Institute) met with the Honourable Mayor of Kolkata to share the study recommendations and seek guidance and support from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation in taking the agenda of shaping an inclusive city forward.

The Honourable Mayor has responded positively, expressing willingness to work towards inclusive, safe, and hygienic sanitation facilities for women, trans and queer persons in Kolkata.

Stakeholder Consultation

On 1 Sep’2025, Azad Foundation and Sabar institute held a joint stakeholder consultation to disseminate the study findings and recommendations, joined by 150 participants including sector experts, academia, civil society, media, and community representatives.

The research study has been featured across 15 national, regional media and social media platforms, including The Hindu, The Wire, Indian Express, Feminism in India, amplifying the urgency of addressing this issue.