Nagpur To Get Separate Toilets, Medical Wards for Transgenders

Four years after the SC recognised transgenders, Maharashtra will get its first separate toilet for the community.

The transgender community has been demanding the basic facility of separate toilets since 2014. 

(Photo: Vibhushita Singh/ The Quint)

The district administration of Nagpur has decided to construct two public toilets in the city for members of the transgender community. The move comes after representatives of the Sarthi Trust, which works for the community, met District Collector Sachin Kurve and demanded separate public toilets and medical wards for transgenders.

Transgenders were granted independent status as the third gender by the Supreme Court in 2014. The court also directed the government to provide the community with basic facilities. Four years later, this will be Maharashtra’s first exclusive public toilets for trans people.

We have decided to set up two (public) toilets for the transgender community in Pachpaoli and Sitabuldi areas on experimental basis. The sites were suggested by the trust. This is an important step to bring the transgender into the mainstream of society.

Sachin Kurve

Similarly, a separate ward for transgenders with a eight to ten beds in government-run hospitals has also been approved. The community was also promised jobs as per their academic qualifications, reported Mumbai Mirror.

As per the requirement of the district administration, the position of Data Operator is filled on contract basis. Educated transgender will also be considered for this.

Sachin Kurve

Sarathi Trust's CEO Nikunj Joshi and transgender Vidya Kamble and Mahi Tete attended the meeting. Joshi, said there were about 1,200 transgenders in the city. “We apprised the collector and deans and civil surgeons (of government hospitals) about health concerns of transgender community, and the discrimination they sometimes face.

(With inputs from agencies)