LU’s stinking reality: Students struggle for basic hygiene

Lucknow: The promise of basic sanitation and hygiene at Lucknow University remains unfulfilled, with essential amenities neglected across the campus, particularly in washrooms. Coincidentally, the World Toilet Day was observed on Nov 19.

A reality check by TOI across several departments revealed that women's washrooms have deteriorated to what students describe as 'unusable.' Filthy floors, broken locks, leaking taps, and the absence of sanitary pads or hand wash have made daily campus life difficult, forcing many students to step out just to access basic hygiene facilities.

With over 25,000 students relying on LU's infrastructure, the urgent need for regular cleaning, proper maintenance, and provision of essential hygiene supplies cannot be ignored.


According to Union Ministry of Education guidelines, girls should have at least one toilet cubicle per 20 students, while international norms allow one per 25. For boys, the standard is one cubicle and one urinal per 30 students. Many LU departments fall short of these standards.

"The washrooms here are cleaned only once every two days, and most of the time there's no soap or sanitizer," said an English department student, Priya Verma.

Anjali Singh from the public administration department added, "Sometimes we have no choice but to go to nearby metro stations to use the toilets."

The department of commerce presents a similar picture. Students complained of foul odors, lack of handwash or sanitizer, and no sanitary pad dispensers.

"Even basic facilities like soap, water, and pads are missing. It's stressful and uncomfortable, and many of us feel we have to plan our day around avoiding these washrooms," said Riya Shukla, a commerce student.

The common washroom near the parking lot, meant for general use, was found in equally poor condition. It reeked of stench and is reportedly cleaned only once every two days.

"Common washrooms are always dirty. It feels like no one is responsible for maintenance, and it impacts all students who rely on these facilities daily," said Ananya Tiwari, a student from the anthropology department.

At LU's second campus, male students at the faculty of Law and faculty of engineering reported similar issues, including stinking washrooms, broken flush systems, and non-functional taps. "There's often no water even at the water coolers, and the toilets are barely usable," said Amrit Sinha, a law student.

"We are not demanding luxury, just clean washrooms and provide basic hygiene supplies. It's essential for our health and dignity," added Ashutosh Sharma, an engineering student.

LU spokesperson Mukul Srivastava said, "As this issue has come to our notice, we will ensure the washrooms are cleaned regularly and maintained properly. The administration is committed to addressing these concerns promptly."

(Names of some students have been changed on request.)

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