Make Sure Third Gender Has Public Toilet Access: Centre to States

Such inclusivity is being talked about for the first time and it’s a welcome initiative. (Photo: iStock)

The Centre has pushed for the third gender to be able to use community and public toilets meant for both men and women, as Times of India reported.

The guideline came from the sanitation ministry in their latest advisory on gender issues and sanitation.

In many communities, the third gender may often be dissociated from the mainstream. Swachh Bharat Mission (Grameen) should make a conscious effort that they are recognised as equal citizens and users of toilets. They should be allowed to use the facility of their choice (men or women) in community or public toilets.

Sanitation Ministry Advisory

In the US, there were new gender-neutral toilets that were unveiled in Long Beach, California which were to be used by members identifying with each gender.

In India, such inclusivity is being talked about for the first time and it’s a welcome initiative, to respect the privacy and give each gender dignity. 

The Urban Development Ministry had enacted the Real Estate Regulation law stating that home-buying should be “non-discriminatory”, getting the third gender into the purview of buying homes for themselves without attached social stigma.

In another attempt to strengthen the role of women in the sanitation programme’s planning and implementation of the Swachh Bharat Mission, the state governments have been asked by the rural sanitation ministry to ensure at least 50 per cent of the members of the sanitation committee in each village are women.

It’s also pushing the advocation of instilling in people that the responsibility of keeping the toilets clean is to be shouldered equally by people of all genders.

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