The stink of exclusion: Gendered sanitation infrastructure in Delhi

Vinita Kumari and Vipul Anekant

Modern metropolises reflect historical power relations, particularly those of caste, class, and gender. Urban landscapes often serve as evidence of planning philosophies that have historically prioritised the ‘male-worker’ as the primary user of public space, thereby reinforcing hierarchical power structures rather than promoting egalitarian power-sharing that uplifts subaltern and historically oppressed communities. Social constructions dominated by patriarchal power structures shape how individuals create, reproduce, and transform their environments. In turn, these environments and their transformation reflect, reproduce, and modify gender relations and perpetuate patriarchy. Consequently, the experiences of women and men in cities are largely gendered.

As Delhi transitions toward a ‘night economy’, characterised by increased female labour force participation and new labour codes on social security that enable women to work night shifts, the call for a ‘Fair-Shared City’ grows louder. A city must be designed and managed to provide equitable opportunities and access to resources for all citizens, irrespective of gender, age, socio-economic status, or other identities. In Delhi, gender exclusion is most evident in the ongoing sanitation crisis. Access to clean and safe sanitation is not merely a convenience but a prerequisite for dignity, health, and freedom of movement. Existing public sanitation facilities are inadequate for both sexes. But for women, first, public toilet facilities are asymmetrically skewed in many areas. And even if they are available, they are not usable. Women must hold urine for hours or restrict water intake to avoid non-existent or dilapidated facilities, increasing the risk of urinary tract infections and other health issues. This situation forces women to bear the private costs of public planning failures. The absence of adequate facilities constitutes a silent form of ‘infrastructural violence’ and ‘institutional apathy’, imposing both physical and emotional burdens as women navigate a city that neglects their fundamental biological needs.

Travelling through Delhi, it is impossible to miss the semi-open, foul-smelling urinals for men on the roadside, while women’s washrooms remain a rare sight. These semi-open facilities, while serving men, can unintentionally create hostile environments for others through visual and sensory discomfort. This form of olfactory exclusion, referred to as ‘scent distress’, operates as a mechanism of structural discrimination, leading to disengagement and psychological harm. Men’s comfort is prioritised through urinals on the footpaths, while the resulting odour and a lack of privacy for women serve to evict them from the sidewalk. 

The gendered experience of the city is further shaped by intersections with class and caste. In Delhi’s unauthorised colonies and slum areas, access to public toilets is a daily challenge. The lived experiences of women, including Dalit and divyang women, residing in the slums differ markedly from those of more privileged women. Public sanitation spaces often become sites of sexual harassment. Factors such as inadequate lighting, broken doors, and the lack of separate toilets for men and women exacerbate vulnerabilities and adversely affect both physical and social well-being.

The Master Plan of Delhi 2041 emphasises inclusivity; however, critics argue that it lacks specific gender-responsive provisions. It is commendable that in 2015, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) mandated a 50:50 male-to-female ratio for public toilets, replacing the 60:40 ratio set in 1983. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi has approved ‘Pink Bus Toilets’, yet these initiatives remain temporary solutions to a structural crisis. Despite such policy changes, implementation remains insufficient. In 2019, research by the Praja Foundation indicated that Delhi had one public toilet seat for every 9,630 women, compared to one for every 3,982 men. There is no functional public women’s washroom on the Delhi University North Campus, except for one at the metro station. In July 2025 and February 2026, the Delhi High Court strongly criticised civic bodies for the unsanitary condition of public toilets, ruling that filthy facilities violate citizens’ right to life and dignity under Article 21. 

While Delhi faces ongoing challenges, other metropolises have implemented models that position sanitation as a fundamental aspect of urban belonging. Singapore’s 2013 code revision increased the female-to-male toilet ratio in new buildings to 5:3 to address biological needs. Since the early 1990s, Vienna has completed over 60 urban projects with a gender-sensitive approach. Delhi should incorporate gender mainstreaming in sanitation planning through specific design standards, innovative technologies, and integrated social policies. Semi-open urinals should be permanently closed. Community-led maintenance by women’s self-help groups, as demonstrated in Tiruchirappalli, offers a viable model. The city requires data-driven planning to determine stall ratios, establish explicit maintenance mandates, and institutionalise potty parity by ensuring that every marketplace and transit hub provides a functional, well-lit women’s facility equipped with essential amenities such as sanitary napkin vending machines.

When women are forced to calculate the risk of drinking a glass of water based on the availability of a clean toilet, both the city and society have failed in their fundamental duty of care. Achieving spatial justice requires moving beyond structural inclusion to foster a sense of belonging. While inclusion addresses structural access, belonging involves emotional acceptance, allowing individuals to exist in a space without judgment or surveillance. The ‘Right to Pee’ ultimately signifies the right to the city itself: the right to participate in public, academic, and economic life without fear, discomfort, or exclusion. Cities must first ensure inclusivity in basic amenities to create a safe, shared home for all their citizens. 

(Vinita is a PhD research scholar in urban geographies, Delhi University, and Vipul is the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police)

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.