Delhi to build separate public toilets for trans community

Delhi: In a much-needed move, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to construct separate toilets for the transgenders in Delhi. Under annual budget of 2021-2022, toilets that are exclusively for transgenders will be constructed in the busy marketplaces of the capital city. Shastri Bhawan, which is under construction will be the first toilet for transgenders. Reports reveal that there is not a single toilet for trans community in Delhi so far.

H.P Singh, NDMC official told to IANS that it has been a long pending demand to construct separate toilets for the third gender especially in busy market places. Several parts of Delhi including Paharganj, Burari, Shastri Park, Laxmi Nagar and Daryaganj where transgender people have been residing for decades never had any single toilet facility in separate.

In 2014, the Supreme Court of India recognized transgender people as third gender and directed the centre and state governments to create separate exclusive toilets for transgenders.

Talking with IANS, Singh added that transgenders are allowed to use the common toilets but many of them hesitate to use it due to many untold reasons.

Earlier before, Mysuru was the first city in India where transgenders were provided with exclusive toilets. After that in 2018, Bhopal became the second city where separate toilets were built for trans community because of pressing demands.