November 19, 2019
Pratima Mondal speaks on the need for building public toilets for transgender people
FULL TRANSCRIPT
Sir, I would like to draw the attention of the House to an important issue. Sir, toilets are basic necessities for us. The use of public toilet is one of the most common thing, but it is not so easy for the transgender and third-gender people.
Sir, men use the men’s room while the women the women’s washrooms. But the transgender people face the dilemma over the choice of their public toilets. Dealing with stares, jeers and threats of violence, something as natural as using the washroom is often a dreadful situation for them.
Sir, in 2014, the Indian Supreme Court accorded third-gender status to transgender people and the individual right to determine the gender they identify with. The verdict included a directive for separate toilets for transgender individuals in public places and hospitals. But we hardly come across these toilets in public and finding a gender-neutral toilet in India is almost next to impossible.
So, I would like to request the government to provide the necessary infrastructure, so that 4.88 lakh people of our country lead their life with normalcy and dignity.
Thank you Sir, for giving me the opportunity.
