Kathmandu February 13.

Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has agreed to construct disable-friendly public toilets in different parts of Kathmandu Valley. Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) and NRNA had signed a memorandum of understanding to this effect on February 6. Public toilets friendly to the people with disabilities would be constructed and operated in Kalanki, Koteswor, Chawahil and Maharajgunj within five years. According to the MoU, NRNA would look after human resource and management aspects of the rest rooms/toilets. KMC would take nominal charge from the users for regular maintenance and management. “Remaining money would be spent for expanding public rest rooms construction in other areas”, shared executive officer of the NRNA Hemanta Kuamr Dawadi. As per the agreement, public toilets would be constructed in Kalanki and Koteswor in the first phase. Female toilets are arranged with space for managing sanitary pad and making them risk-free. Likewise, the rest rooms are also constructed in a way that it has space for changing children’s diaper and breast feeding. The design of the rest room has been taken ahead to provide such basic facilities. KMC which has been discussing on the construction of public toilet for the past four years, has laid emphasis on constructing public toilets in the heritage sites and most crowded public area. KMC deputy mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi said emphasis would be placed on improving the standards of existing public toilets along with the construction of new structures.