1. Babrekar Nagar, Kandivali, Mumbai
Community Composition: Heterogenous. Mixed population of locals/ migrants, Hindus/Muslims. There
were 2/3 distinct types of people in the area: from an economic/literacy/civic sense, and a housing tenure
perspective.
General Description : Located next to a ‘Khaadi,’ Babrekar Nagar is a residential colony with mostly
pucca (permanent) houses. There are a lot of migrants who live as tenants in most of these homes. The
men work as laborers/ while the women work as maids/ domestic help in the buildings nearby
Sanitation Situation: We visited one of the pay-and-use toilets at the end of the community. The
toilet had been built by SPARC and was being maintained by a mandal formed between the influential
members of the community. The caretaker of the toilet is a bachelor from Bihar, who has been taking care
of toilet since the day of its inception.
Top Reasons to Choose This Location/Unique Aspects:
1. People were very eager to talk to us about their sanitation concerns. They also had a lot of
suggestions: Badrilal Bhandari (a local), says the toilet should be open 24 hrs. There’s also no
illumination at night even though the toilets aren't locked, which makes it unsafe for women and
children. “Another suggestion was to “make a small tank/pool of water at the entrance so people can
clean/rinse their muddy feet before they go into the toilet corridor.”
2. Against policy, the contractor has issued "white" passes to a few residents - for free. The others
are issued yellow passes that need to be paid for. This leads to friction and a refusal to pay for the
subscribers of the yellow pass. The migrant tenants are made to pay more money that the local resident
(Rs. 30 compared to Rs. 20).
3. Some people claim that the previous bathroom (built by the MHADA ) was better. A cleaning lady
was hired and was paid for by the resident of the community collectively. They think it was a much more
efficient system, and blame the caretaker for slacking off.
4. A lot of people still defecate right outside the community toilet (there’s a mound of earth and rubble
outside the toilet where people relieve themselves when the toilets are occupied).
5. A major issue noted was that once the construction responsibility is handed over to the local mandal/
‘Nagarsewak,’ they meddle with the architectural plans. In this case they interchanged the ladies and the

2. gents sections. What were supposed to be 4 urinals on the outer face were turned into toilets, which are
not in use as they are broken. Sometimes unwarranted reconstruction happens without any sanctions or
mention of it in the architectural plans.
6. The caretaker also complained about acts of vandalism:
a. Taps are stolen from the toilets
b. Drunk miscreants come and play cards/ create nuisance at night time, which is why he doesn't
watch the toilets at night but resigns to his quarters after 10.
c. defunct doors, because people bang on it and kick it during rush hour mornings.
7. The women’s side is littered with used sanitary napkins, and the “dustbin” is a cut plastic can lying in an
obscure corner where no one can see it.
8. People have to get their own buckets of water as the BMC water supply has been shut. There are no
wash-basins/soap/dustbins.