Public toilets in village markets are essential from a sanitation and public health point of view. Village markets are visited daily by vendors, customers, elderly people, women, and children, yet most of them lack basic toilet facilities even in today’s modern era. The absence of public toilets causes inconvenience, unhygienic conditions, and open defecation, which negatively affects public health and cleanliness. A Sulabh Shauchalay is a practical and eco-friendly solution. Such toilets, often managed by Sulabh International, are low-cost and suitable for rural areas. Every village panchayat should take responsibility by identifying suitable land and proposing public toilet facilities to the government or concerned institutions. To construct or request a Sulabh toilet in a village market, gram sabhas must pass resolutions as part of development and sanitation planning. Residents can also submit written requests to their gram panchayats. Under the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, panchayats should report the requirement through the Swachh Bharat Gramin portal. Providing public toilets in village markets is not a luxury but a basic necessity for hygiene, dignity, and community well-being.
