Rural toilets are not a new concept. However, one with a shower exclusively for women is grabbing eyeballs. Filmmaker-actor Suresh Menon has designed a single-room, eco-friendly toilet with a closet, shower and washbasin, using discarded shipping containers. According to Menon, this looks at the whole aspect of hygiene for women.

Having conceived of the idea a while ago, it took Menon a few months and lots of travelling to fine tine it; however most of the materials he considered were unaffordable, till he came across discarded shipping containers.

The toilet-bathroom has all the basic facilities. Besides a shower and closet, it has a washbasin. Each room is 20 feet tall and eight feet wide. Since it is made from old shipping containers, it's very strong. The first structure of its kind was installed in Manjakkudi - a remote village 40 km from Kumbakonam - and the response was encouraging. Menon also has a clear idea of waste disposal and water sources. He adds that water can be used from the nearby wells and tankers. The waste disposal should be either through existing sewage lines or it can be discharged into a bio-tank. Each side of the unit can be used as an advertising hoarding to generate revenue for maintenance.

Menon is currently working on more such toilets to be supplied to remote areas across Tamil Nadu – not only in rural areas but also in the slums.