Chikmagalur (Karnataka) (IANS): A letter from a woman from Karnataka has gone viral on social media. In a letter to the President, she wrote about how she was forced to defecate in public in the absence of public toilets at a pilgrimage center in Chikkamagaluru district. Devotee Jademma has written a letter in Kannada language describing her ordeal in detail. She has urged President Draupadi Murmu to ensure construction of public toilets at pilgrimage centers where lakhs of people visit. She also said that the President is an inspiration and a symbol of faith for a woman like her. The main purpose of the letter is to bring to the fore the suffering of common women like her, pointed the devotee.
In her letter she wrote, ‘few days back I went to Bababudagiri Duttipheth, Mulaiyanagiri and Satalayyyanagiri. All these are Hindu pilgrims. In Bababudagiri, I felt the need for nature’s call. I did not get public toilet. Feeling emergency, I climbed on the Mullayagiri hill. I searched toilets but in vain. Later, I climbed to Satyayyyanagiri searching for public toilets. Every moment was unbearable for me and finally I had to go in open space’.
She further wrote, ‘everyday people fight for their religion and Gods. But, their negligence towards making toilets is unfortunate. When we feel the need for nature’s call, we forget to which religion we belong and go about it. If there is one place in the world which is used by people of all religions everywhere, it is the toilet. You are also a woman like me. But, you don’t face problems like me because you are in power and you have people to serve you. But, the unavailability of toilets has lowered the dignity of women like me. You can understand the pressure the routine needs put on a normal woman’.
Only a woman knows the difficulties faced by women. The absence of public toilets at places of pilgrimage visited by lakhs of people is a violation of Articles 19 and 21 of the Constitution. We have reached Mars but could not make toilets at these pilgrimage centres. India is the diabetes capital of the world. People are heavily dependent on public toilets. If you initiate measures to build toilet facilities here, the people of Karnataka will remember you always, added the devotee.