Gujarat has set aside Rs 59.14 crore in the 2026-27 state budget to build “pink toilets” for women in urban areas. This initiative is part of the ‘Nirmal Gujarat 2.0’ program aimed at enhancing sanitation infrastructure and public hygiene. The pink toilets will be established in municipal corporations, municipalities, and urban pilgrimage sites.
The objective is to offer safe, clean, and modern sanitation facilities for women in busy urban locations. Launched in 2007 by then Chief Minister and current Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Nirmal Gujarat scheme has evolved over the years. Under Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Nirmal Gujarat 2.0 was introduced in 2024 to raise public awareness on cleanliness and position the state as a sanitation leader.
Each pink toilet unit will feature four standard toilet seats, one seat for differently-abled women, a changing room, a baby feeding room, and a designated area for a female caretaker. These facilities aim to meet the hygiene, accessibility, and safety needs of women in urban settings. The allocation for pink toilets is part of a broader fund of Rs 329.54 crore for the new components under Nirmal Gujarat 2.0.
The new components include enhancing solid waste collection in urban areas, constructing women-centric sanitation facilities, improving the operation of public toilets, and river cleaning efforts. The measures are geared towards achieving 100% door-to-door waste collection in urban regions and meeting the targets of ‘Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban 2.0’. Additionally, the program will bolster the operation and maintenance of all public toilets in municipal areas.
The decision to introduce pink toilets follows the recent observance of International Women’s Day. The state government’s move underscores its ongoing commitment to women’s hygiene, safety, and access to essential public amenities.
