Rajiv Kher, who runs these lavatories, said, "I have been in the sanitation business for many years."Stating that earlier there was only one lavatory, at Shaniwarwada, Mr Kher said, "We charge Rs 5 per person for maintenance. But these toilets came into existence in 2016, after Kunal Kumar, the then Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) commissioner invited entrepreneurs to come up with an idea for public toilets for women."Monali Kshirsagar, who runs the Sambhaji Garden lavatory, said, "On weekends and holidays and days when programmes are held at the garden, over 250 women deep groove ball bearing Manufacturers use the facility. If that wasnt enough, also included is a small cafe where one can buy refreshments. The garden hosts two to four programmes a month. For the first half of 2016, the PMC paid for their maintenance but Mr Kher has been managing it since then. Later, we gave them to this company."Dyaneshwar Molak, additional municipal commissioner, solid waste management, PMC, said, "We got scrapped buses from the Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited and converted them into toilets. At the Vishrantwadi lavatory, we run a launderette where we get clothes cleaned and ironed."He added, "We want to convert this into a successful enterprise. Paying Rs 5 (for the facility) isnt a waste and you will not feel filthy buying snacks here because it is so clean. Repurposed as a posh lavatory, the scrapped bus has been equipped with a TV set, two washbasins, a huge mirror, three Indian-style and one western-style toilets. Sanitary napkins are sold at all the lavatory. A part of the profit is shared."Mr Kher added, "The idea is to give lavatories to women to run so they can earn a livelihood.Pune: Visitors to Sambhaji Garden at Jangali Maharaj Road find it hard to believe a pink bus bearing the words ‘Ti Swachtagruha’ (Washroom for Her) is a public lavatory. Currently, there are 13 such establishments all over Pune. We decided to give it a try. At the Sambhaji Garden and Shaniwarwada lavatory, we run a cafe because both sites are tourist destinations.". At another lavatory, we have begun a hair salon for women. Currently, this is being run on an experimental basis with support from corporate social responsibility (CSR)."Stating her friends and her plan their outings in such a way that they avoid using public toilets, Suvarna Rajurkar, a visitor, said, "But this is a surprise
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