Latest news with #StrainTheory
News18
4 days ago
- General
- News18
Do Indian Cities Fail Women When It Comes To Public Toilets? Watch This Video
Last Updated: Walking through Delhi's Rajendra Nagar, an educator filmed a long stretch of road to demonstrate how women are often sidelined in urban planning. A viral video has brought attention to the state of public toilet infrastructure in Delhi, exposing glaring gender disparities and a lack of inclusivity. Praveen Dixit, a UPSC educator, conducted a social experiment to highlight the severe shortage of public toilets in one of the capital's busiest areas. Walking through Delhi's Rajendra Nagar, Dixit filmed a long stretch of road to demonstrate how women are often sidelined in urban planning. 'I want to show a challenge that women face but is rarely part of public discourse," he said at the start of the video. Introducing viewers to Old Rajendra Nagar, Praveen Dixit urged them to compare the locality's conditions with other areas in the city before beginning his walkthrough of gender-specific public toilets. His on-ground survey revealed a striking disparity: while there were 10 toilets built exclusively for men, just one was available for women. 'This reflects the plight of nearly 50 per cent of the population who have access to less than 10 per cent of public toilets," he commented. Noting how women have been excluded as a part of social decision-making, the UPSC educator emphasised the need to promote inclusion for every section. He went on to describe such instances as a part of Emile Durkheim's Strain Theory. 'There are two sections in society whose success rate is the same as that of failure. However, one section has fewer resources than the other, leading to pressure or strain on them," he explained. Coming back to the issue, Dixit described it as a 'gendered sanitation gap," adding that women drink less water and take many other precautions whenever they go out, which directly affects their health. He even urged viewers to speak to the women of their households to understand how frequently women have to hold their bladders for hours due to such gaps in the sanitation infrastructure. In response to the educator's video, many social media users chimed in, sharing their views on the issue. One wrote, 'No doubt there should be female toilets, but what if that all is also not maintainable in terms of cleanliness and hygiene perspective? All will remain vacant for sure," while another added, 'Very insightful. Inclusive growth is a part of every government's agenda, but it doesn't fructify into implementation." A section of social media users even discussed how some women refrain from using public toilets despite having access, stating that they are more worried about the hygiene factor. First Published:
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- General
- Hindustan Times
UPSC educator exposes India's shocking gender disparity in public toilets during Delhi walkthrough
A video shared by a civil services educator and mentor has sparked widespread conversation online after he highlighted the critical shortage of public toilets for women in India. Filmed in New Delhi's Rajendra Nagar — a bustling hub popular among UPSC aspirants — the video sheds light on a systemic oversight that continues to marginalise women in public infrastructure planning. (Also read: 18-year-old woman rents company toilet for ₹540, cooks and eats food inside space) In the video, the educator, Praveen Dixit, is seen walking through the locality while conducting an informal on-ground survey. What he uncovered was deeply concerning: while ten toilets were available exclusively for men, only one was designated for women. 'This reflects the plight of nearly 50% of the population who have access to less than 10% of public toilets,' Dixit remarked. He called the situation a manifestation of the "gendered sanitation gap" — a term he used to describe how poor infrastructure planning routinely sidelines women's needs. Dixit clarified that this isn't a result of active discrimination, but rather the outcome of decision-making that fails to include diverse perspectives. Drawing on sociology, Dixit compared this structural neglect to the Strain Theory, which posits that societal pressure without adequate means leads to frustration and negative outcomes. "The problem is not just of inconvenience," he said, "it is about fairness, health, and dignity." Dixit urged viewers to discuss this reality with the women in their homes, pointing out how many are forced to control their bladders for 4–6 hours when outside, something most men never have to consider. Watch the clip here: The video has already garnered close to 8,000 views, with many users resonating with its message. One user commented, 'You may be right but what about the condition of those? Is it clean? Are all maintained properly?' Another noted, 'Inclusive growth is part of every government agenda, but implementation remains a dream.' (Also read: 'He had daughter's pictures next to other women': Bengaluru woman shares chilling details of toilet hidden camera ordeal) Another viewer remarked, 'Dehydration is key to survival in the wild. Even when there are toilets, they're so filthy that they're unusable. Some are even locked. It's a curse of this gender.' Others simply said, 'Bilkul sahi baat hai sir,' echoing their agreement.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Health
- NDTV
Watch: UPSC Educator Exposes India's Women's Toilet Crisis
In a viral video that has sparked widespread conversation, civil services educator and mentor Praveen Dixit has shed light on the glaring lack of public toilets for women in India. Starting the video, Mr Dixit said, "Today, I want to talk about something that's really important but doesn't get discussed enough - a challenge that many women face but often remains hidden from public view." In the video, Mr Dixit walks through New Delhi's Rajendra Nagar area, a well-known hub for UPSC aspirants, and documents the state of public sanitation facilities. His on-ground survey revealed a stark disparity: while there were ten toilets exclusively for men, only one was available for women. Highlighting the issue, he remarked that this reflects the plight of nearly 50% of the country's population, who have access to less than 10% of public toilets. Watch the video here: Gendered Sanitation Gap and Strain Theory — Praveen (@PraveenDixit__) June 18, 2025 Highlighting the importance of inclusive decision-making, Praveen Dixit emphasised that the lack of women's toilets isn't due to deliberate neglect but rather a failure to consider women's needs in planning. He compared this oversight to the Strain Theory in sociology, which suggests that when people are pressured to achieve societal goals without adequate means, it creates frustration-sometimes leading to negative consequences. He argued that such systemic neglect creates a sense of bitterness, particularly among women, toward structures dominated by male perspectives. Mr Dixit termed this issue the "gendered sanitation gap" and urged viewers to speak with the women in their households. He pointed out how commonly women are forced to hold their bladder for 4-6 hours due to the lack of facilities-something men rarely have to endure. He concluded by describing the situation as not just inconvenient but fundamentally unfair and dangerous to women's health. "This imbalance makes it extremely difficult for women to step out for long hours," he said, adding that the lack of access to clean public toilets forces many women to limit water intake when outside. "This seemingly small compromise can result in serious health issues," Mr Dixit noted. The video has sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for more inclusive and equitable sanitation infrastructure in India. "Dehydration is key to survival in the wild. Even in places that do have public toilets, they are so filthy that it's basically unusable. Some are also locked on occasions. Curse of this gender," commented a user. "Women can even hold their bowel movement for 8-10 hours, and they do this because if there is no water and cleanliness in the toilet, women do not use public toilets for their hygiene," wrote another user.
