The LGBTQ community is still struggling under the draconian law of Section 377 prohibiting homosexuality. But in a progressive move, the Nagpur district administration gives them a basic yet important space. One of the organisations Sarthi Trust met the district Collector Sachin Kurve and discussed making of separate toilets for transgenders.  The administration has approved of the proposal and the city will see two public toilets for people of the community.

These public toilets will be constructed in Pachpaoli and Sitabuldi areas. "We requested for separate (public) toilets as well as separate medical wards for transgenders," said Nikunj Joshi, CEO of Sarathi Trust. This move proves a breakthrough in providing equal rights to the people of the community who normally face ostracization from the society.

After getting their individual status for transgender in 2014, the Supreme Court had announced to offer basic facilities to them. This directive was not followed in all the states including Maharashtra. Four years down the line, Nagpur has taken the first step to give them the facility of public sanitation. Transgenders could not go to men’s toilet in public places, if they went to a women’s toilet, they had to face the looks of disgust. But this move will surely prove a comfort.

Along with the separate toilets, medical wards for them will also be set-up in government-run hospitals. “The separate ward for transgender with set up of eight to ten beds in the government-run hospitals has also been approved. The community was also promised jobs as per their academic qualifications,” Joshi was quoted to regional newspaper Maharashtra Times. He also asserted a lot of positive reforms are due for the community. Education will be among the priority so that they can be employed further. The collector of Nagpur Karve said, “Separate toilets will be built on the experimental basis. Transgender should suggest the place for that and we will consider it positively. This is an important step to bring the transgender into the main stream of society.”

Mysore, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha are some of the states which have the gender neutral toilet facility with facility for transgender people. Maharashtra has also taken the step the highly positive step, starting with Nagpur, in reforming and encouraging the development of the transgender community. Other cities should also consider and start making at least some facilities available for the community which deserves at least basic attention. We hope other cities too follow suit!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 20, 2018 05:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).