In stark contrast, an estimated half a million people in the city of Mumbai defecate outdoors, and 32 percent of Delhi households—at the time of the 2001 Census—didn’t have access to a toilet facility, said Aromar Revi, director of the new Indian Institute for Human Settlements, during a recent urbanism

In a 2009 Centre for Civil Society study it was estimated that Delhi had only 132 public toilets for women - many of them barely functioning - compared with 1,534 public toilets for men. In lieu of toilets, many Indian women use ‘flying toilets,’ a reference to using a plastic bag—or defecate in fields, according to a Deccan Herald report.

The lack of public toilets limits the mobility of women and their ability to work or go to school. A study by the nonprofit organization Aser showed a link between providing separate toilets for girls in schools and girls’ dropout rates. Only 4 in 10 government schools have functioning toilets for girls, and this strongly influences the girls’ ability to attend school.

Four years ago, the state of Haryana government started a ‘No Toilet, No Bride’ campaign, painting walls across the state with the slogan: “I won’t allow my daughter to marry into a home without toilets.” In Delhi, marriage brokers confirm that many families will now ask whether the groom’s family has a bathroom of its own before going ahead with nuptial negotiations.

India currently enshrines its citizens with access to food and education via laws like the Right to Education Act. With the issue of toilet access being brought to light, some organizations—including the Self-Employed Women’s Association—have suggested a Right to Toilets Act.