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Documented by Goa Desc Documentation Service
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Surprising but true, Margao New Market yet to have toilet
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If the unhygienic conditions in Gandhi market here prompted
social activist Deepa Murkunde to urinate in the market inspector's
office, the situation in the adjoining crowded New Market
is not anything better.
Unlike Gandhi market, however, what sounds strange about
the New Market is the total absence of a single toilet in this
municipal market. On the contrary just consider this:
New Market has 450-odd small shops and establishments,
spread across an area of 6,000 square meters. Over 250 women
are believed to be employed in the small shops dotting the
narrow lanes of the congested market. For these hapless women
who earn just a few hundred rupees after hard work and toil,
they have to track to the nearest pay-toilet located on the passage
connecting the new market to the Pick-up stand road.
An open urinal adjacent to this pay toilet comes in handy
for the men-folk or simply the passages connecting the new market
to relieve themselves. Surprisingly, the civic officials never bothered
to rectify the situation all these years, despite the fact that thousands
of people pour in the New Market everyday for shopping.
Says Vinod Shirodkar, the president of the Madgaum New Market
Traders Association: "The Association had been after the civic body
for construction of new toilets in the market surrounding but to no avail".
He says that the municipality finally repaired the toilet on the passage
three years ago after the Association persistent demand for the same.
According to him, women employed in the market flock to nearby houses
and even a beauty parlour to relieve themselves. Besides, the market lacks
the basic facilities such as a wash basin and potable water to drink.
When contacted, MMC officials confirmed that the lone six-seater
pay-toilet at the passage caters to the needs of public, and admitted
that it is inadequate to meet the demand. It's not uncommon to find
womenfolk gathered outside the lone pay-toilet waiting for turns to use
the facility. But, MMC officials say that they have taken cognizance
of the difficulties faced by the people and are in the process of
construction a new toilet block.
"The council has proposed to construct a 12-seater toilet with two
bathrooms at the pick-up stand", a senior official informed.
In a way, the city totally lack abundant number of pay toilets.
For instance, the nearest toilets available from the pick-up stand
is the Gandhi market, which mostly remains closed and are used
by the business community than by the people.
Malbhat is another area which has pay toilets but is far away
from the markets. The old bus stand houses another pay toilet
and an urinal and believe it or not, it caters to the entire heart
of the city. Truly, this toilet has been the most frequently used one
in the city given that government offices located in the vicinity
do not entertain outsiders to use their toilets.
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HERALD 1/11/02
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GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE
Documentation + Education + Solidarity
11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507
Tel: 252660 mailto:goadesc@;goatelecom.com
website: www.goadesc.org
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Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy
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What's On In Goa (WOIG):
Nov 06 Children's book exhibn opens, Walkabout, Anjuna... (all weekdays)
Nov 06 ArtHouse, Calangute: Chaitali's acrylics on canvas till 19.11
Nov 07 Revision of electoral rolls (till Nov 30) See schedule.
Nov 07 Creative science, for children, Goa Sc Centre (till 16.11)
Nov 08 Friday Balcao, focuses on North Goa garbage dumpsite at Saligao issue
Nov 10 Corporate summit on IT and biotechnology, Intl Centre (till 11.11)
Nov 17 Goan Engineers and Assoc meet, at Pickering, Canada.
Nov 20 Fr Agnelo's 75th death anniversary, Pilar
Dec 01 Two day conference, Goa Agenda. IT For Society. (Ends 2.12)
Every Sunday: Music therapy sessions at Moira, 5 pm. 278, N.Portugal
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