This movie by Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication creates awareness on Pink Toilet 

According to UNICEF, India has made rapid progress in ending open defecation across the country which is having a huge impact on improving water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH). But at the same time, a large number of women face problems accessing hygienic toilets. In a cleanliness leap, the Noida Authority launched ‘Pink Toilet’ in 2019 to help women and girls access hygienic washrooms in busy markets and public areas. 

Spreading mass awareness on the same, Apeejay Institute of Mass communication (AIMC) along with the underprivileged students of South and Development Research and Action (SADRAG), a Noida-based NGO, created a documentary on Pink Toilet titled ‘Suraksha Kavach: Swacchta Ka Kawach, Jo Rahe Humesha Sulabh’ for Noida Development Authority. 

The six-minute long documentary depicts how the presence of a Pink Toilet is making it easier for hundreds of girls and women to have access to safe and hygienic toilet facilities. The documentary further encapsulates the facilities like sanitary napkin vending machines, a feeding area for mothers as well as a specially designed separate space for differently-abled females provided in the Pink Toilet.

The documentary was created under the mentorship of Programme Director, Prof. Pijush Dutta. Students involved in the making of this documentary emphasised it was a great learning experience for them to work on such a project with underprivileged children. “I am glad to have worked as a Director for this project. Through this documentary making, Apeejay provided me with an opportunity to enhance my filmmaking skills. We also taught the students from the NGO about filmmaking while we created this documentary together,” said Ayush Garg, student of Advertising and Marketing Communication with AIMC.

Another student, Afreen Choudhury from AIMC said, “ This project helped me to further hone my script writing skills. This will help me in conceptualising better PR campaigns in the future. It was certainly a fun learning experience where I not just learnt from my fellow batchmates but also from the students of SADRAG NGO.

Dr. Mala Bhandari, Founder Director of Sadrag NGO, Noida said, “Thanks to Prof Pijush Dutta and his students for sharing their skills with underprivileged children. They are not only skilling the children but are taking them towards self-reliance and a sustainable career path. Making of the film, Hamara Suraksha Kavach, is the first step in this direction. I wish the joint working team all the success in the times to come. Moreover, making such a film is a successful step towards the empowerment of several women.”