Increase cost for building good quality toilets: Hema Malini

New Delhi, Nov 19: Stressing on the importance of toilets in every village, especially for women, BJP MP Hema Malini on Thursday, Nov 19 said the cost for building good quality lavatories should be increased to Rs 25,000.

"The quality of toilets constructed in the village adopted by me in Mathura was so poor that it was crumbling. When I asked the Pradhan of the village he said it was what he could do with Rs 12,000. A good quality toilet can be built with a cost of Rs Rs 25,000," she said at a seminar organised here on the occasion of World Toilet Day.

"So I am going to the government and fight there with everyone to allot Rs 25,000 for good quality toilets. If we make 100 toilets and if they are not usable then whats the point," she said.

Referring to her experiences as an actress on outdoor shoots with poor toilet facilities, Hema said it was very difficult for women and girls to lead a normal life in absence of toilets.

"Women in my constituency tell me that they have to wait till the evening to go out since there are no toilets," she said and suggested construction of public toilets on the outskirts of villages.

Speaking earlier, the Director General and CEO of Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Bhaskar Chaterjee said the efforts of government coupled with funds from private sector can help in construction of good quality toilets in the country.

"Every year about Rs 20,000 crore is contributed by 16,000-17,000 private companies under Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSRs) and if a fraction of it could be utilised effectively then the combined effort (for toilets) will be a success," he added.

Hema Malini presented cheques of Rs one lakh each to five women who created awareness about toilets in their community, during the programme organised by Sulabh International Social Service Organisation. Founder of Sulabh Dr Bindeshwar Pathak was also present on the occasion.

PTI