Toilets for women: Government to rope in PSUs

As part of efforts to ensure safety of women, public sector units (PSUs) are being roped in to build toilets, a priority area for NDA government, Minister for Women and Child Development Maneka Gandhi has said.

"We are getting hold of people, the PSUs to come and build toilets (for use by women). It is a priority of this government," she told PTI on the sidelines of a function here.

Asked if PSUs were being asked to pitch in across the country, she said, "Yes", adding, it was part of measures to ensure women's safety and the specifics were being worked out.

PSUs would assist the project as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives.

The minister, who was here yesterday for a book release, said she would be "very happy" to spend fund allocation under the Members of Parliament Local Area Development scheme to build toilets for use by women.

She also told reporters that the Centre was ready to launch Rape Crisis Centres across the country that would offer a range of support services for women victims of molestaion and sexual assault.

"Women have to be given protection through many ways like education, employment, more specialised policing and Rape Crisis Centres," she said, adding the government was working in different ways and through different ministries.