Jaipur: Despite Jaipur being declared Open Defecation Free (ODF), several families in Jawahar Nagar’s kacchi basti continue to defecate in the nearby jungle, with residents blaming poorly maintained public toilets, lack of space for household toilets and inadequate sanitation facilities.
Residents of Jawahar Nagar Slum Area are facing many challenges including garbage problem, sewerage system and open defecation etc and share their plight of day to day survival in the slum area in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 30 July 2026
“If men pass by while we’re relieving ourselves, we immediately stand up and wait for them to leave,” said Rekha (30), who lives with her husband and three children in a 7×10-ft room. Every morning before sunrise, she walks to the jungle with her 13-year-old daughter because there is no space to build a toilet at home.During a visit to the settlement, TOI found heaps of garbage along the jungle’s edge, plastic waste floating in stagnant water and children playing nearby. Residents offered differing accounts of the situation. While some said open defecation has reduced over the years, others claimed many families still rely on the jungle as roadside public toilets are often dirty and run out of water.
Residents of Jawahar Nagar Slum Area are facing many challenges including garbage problem, sewerage system and open defecation etc and share their plight of day to day survival in the slum area in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 30 July 2026
Standing near the drain bordering the settlement, Shekhar (17) pointed to stagnant water and accumulated waste. “There is a foul smell because of the accumulated garbage and household sewage flowing into the drain,” he said.Jawahar Nagar Kacchi Basti Vikas Sangharsh Samiti president Yugal Khoda alleged that poor waste management has worsened the problem. “When water accumulates, it carries garbage into homes. The stretch behind the settlement has not been cleaned, and sanitation workers do not visit that side,” he said.Radha (23) said respiratory illnesses were common in the locality. “From infants to adults, almost everyone in the family has breathing problems. Coughs and colds have become a regular part of our lives,” she said, adding that many residents dump waste near the jungle because the garbage depot is nearly 300 metres away.
Public toilets on the main highway/bypass road outside of the Jawahar Nagar slum area, in poor condition in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 30 July 2026
Responding to the allegations, sanitary inspector for JMC Ward No. 97, Phoolchand, said waste is collected daily through handcarts, and a JCB was deployed on July 30 to clear garbage from Tila No. 7. “Many residents living on the settlement’s edge dump waste towards the jungle. We carry out cleaning to the extent possible,” he said.On the condition of public toilets, he said, “The temporary toilets are also used by passers-by. Their tanks hold only 150-200 litres of water and are refilled once a day, so water is often exhausted before the day ends.”Deputy Commissioner (Health) Om Prakash Thanvi could not be reached despite repeated attempts by TOI.
Residents of Jawahar Nagar Slum Area are facing many challenges including garbage problem, sewerage system and open defecation etc and share their plight of day to day survival in the slum area in Jaipur, Rajasthan on 30 July 2026
