The Sanitation Ministry in its latest circular has issued guidelines on the gender issues and has asked state departments to ensure that the third gender is allowed to use restroom meant for both men and women as per their choice.
The circular issued on Monday on April 3 stated, “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.”
According to a report published in Times of India, this is not the first time that government is talking about ‘inclusivity’, the ministry of urban development has a “non-discriminatory” clause by which anyone is allowed buy a property which includes third gender.
As per the circular issued by sanitation ministry, many people from third-gender have appeared as the champion of Swachhta movement started by government. The circular said, “Wherever suitable, their support can be enlisted in engaging communities, and their efforts duly recognised and honoured to break any stigma around them and also to enable them to use facilities without any embarrassment,” the circular said.
Also, from now when applying in co-ed engineering institutes, transgender students will not have to identify themselves as male and female. Reacting on the development a senior official told Hindustan Times, “There was an earlier communication from the HRD ministry regarding this and we have now included this in the approval handbook so that every institute can maintain data separately. It will also ensure that transgender students don’t face any discrimination.”
