A decade-long battle later, Kalyan's adivasi community gets public toilets

This year's Republic Day was special for around 100 adivasis from 24 families residing near Birla College in Kalyan, as they will now get public toilets after persuading authorities for nearly a decade.

 

Kalyan: This year's Republic Day was special for around 100 adivasis from 24 families residing near Birla College in Kalyan, as they will now get public toilets after persuading authorities for nearly a decade. The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation began the construction work for the toilets on January 26.

Known as Adivashi Pada and situated in the heart of Kalyan city, it is approximately 45 kilometres away from Mumbai. On government record, the land belongs to Mhada. However, these tribals from the Katkari community have been living here for over a century. Most of the tribals work as ragpickers in the city and use the wages to run their household.

According to the adivasi community, a decade ago, this land was a village where they would go into the forests to defecate. But in recent years, many buildings have cropped up in the surrounding areas, increasing the troubles of the community.