Defecating in the open under IOC’s ‘watchful eye’
Chennai   22-Jan-2011

Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras installed atop the IndianOil terminal in Athappagoundan Pudur village on the outskirts of Coimbatore have inadvertently put the Dalit women folk in an embarrassing catch 22 situation.

The village falling under the Irugur Town Panchayat and situated close to the Palakkad Bypass National Highway, does not have public toilets forcing inhabitants to defecate in an open ground near the IOC terminal.

However, for over a year now the women folk are finding themselves in a delicate situation after they realised that their movements could be vividly captured in the high resolution revolving cameras.

While the IOC had installed the CCTVs as a security enhancing measure to prevent acts of terror or sabotage, ever since the women learnt about the existence of the candid cameras they have been overcome with a sense of shame and fear that someone could be watching them during their morning routine.

“We were not aware about the presence of the CCTVs in the vicinity until one of the employees of the IOC bragged about the security feature.”

“The moment we learnt about it, it sent jitters. We remain under fear that an invisible eye could be preying on us and are extremely uncomfortable about it. But we don’t have toilets in our village and there is no other place where we can answer nature’s call,” laments D Chinnal.

Citing the CCTVs, the locals led by Senthil Raj, a CPM functionary, have held repeated demonstrations and sent numerous petitions to various authorities including the Chief Minister’s Cell urging them to construct a public toilet.

But all those efforts have been in vain, says Raj.