Three years ago India’s transgender individuals received recognition as the third gender from the Supreme Court. But they’re still waiting to get equal access to sanitation.
Days after the Centre allowed the community to use public toilets of their choice in April, Mysuru introduced special toilets for them in the city’s bus terminal.
And now, Bhopal has also introduced a toilet for the exclusive use of transgender people.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, inaugurated the toilet in the Mangalwara area on Monday, where there is a large population of transgender people. He also announced that awareness of government schemes would be created among them.
The toilet, which has been constructed by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), also has a change room/make-up room, an official said. It was built at the cost of ₹35 lakh.
There are different signs for men, women, transgender people and handicapped on the doors of the toilet.
The CM also mentioned that he would address all their problems by calling a ‘third gender panchayat’ at his residence.
Apart from that, an additional assistance of ₹1.5 lakh will be provided to the members of the community for constructing houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
“The third gender is yet to get the respect it deserves. My government will ensure equal rights for them. The administration will also be directed to take stringent action against anti-social elements that defame the community,” Shivraj said.
