Transgenders to get separate toilet facilities in Delhi – the Delhi Government directs MCDs and other departments

In a sensitive decision, the Delhi government has directed the MCDs for setting up separate toilets for the transgender in offices of Delhi/NCR regions. Those directed also include district authorities and autonomous bodies.

In an order towards this direction, the Delhi government said, "In compliance with the provisions of section 22 of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 for ensuring adequate welfare measures for transgender persons, all public buildings under all the departments, autonomous bodies, PSUs, corporations and local bodies of Government of NCT Delhi are hereby directed to create separate identified public toilet facilities for transgender persons."

In the annual budget for 2021-22, therefore, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to provide public toilets exclusively for the third gender in the national capital. The deadline set for building toilets for transgender people is two years.

In a further sensible approach the order from the social welfare department also said, "Such toilets will display symbols for both PWDs and T for transgender persons. (However), the trans-people shall continue to be allowed to use gender-based toilets as per their self-identified gender."

Now the order is making rounds with the NDMC chairman and the Delhi Police commissioner, the secretaries of the departments, the CEO of the Delhi Cantonment board and all district magistrates, among others, for compliance Noticeably, the order was issued last week.