Transgenders are a category always left behind when it comes to service delivery. They also face the equal biological need – the nature’s call. But when it comes to sanitation, their access to services is in most critical condition in comparison to rest in the society. Thus they are the most marginalised in sanitation front. Then the question appears, are we doing enough or heading in right direction with desired spirit to address the sanitation issue of transgender persons? Let us get into little deeper.
“I have to come back to my house to release myself during natural call, which impacts my livelihood. Time management is imperative for us when to go out and return, as after certain period we cannot be out due to limited access to toilets. In a public place or in an event/programme, where do I go to pee or even wash myself? Everywhere, provisions of toilet made only for men and women, not for transgender persons. I feel uncomfortable to go to men’s toilet and don’t want to create a hostile environment by entering into women toilet cubical, so no option left than coming back home to use toilet,” says Sneha who is a transgender.
“Toilet is not a luxury but a necessity for all to act upon the natural call. However, for transgender persons it is an issue much more than mere necessity due to the stigma attached with the person. People need to understand we are humans and our body process and feelings are the same as the rest two dominant genders existing in our society. Imagine in a market place, railway station, hospital, cinema theatre, Government and private offices, where do we go if we feel like going to the washroom. In case of transgender persons, it has an impression that increases the mental pressure specifically during the transition phase. As we move from one gender to another our need also gets changed and we are really in a dilemma when and how to transit the toilet. Access to toilet with safety and dignity is also my right, which the service providers fail to understand. Gender discrimination multiplies when it comes to transgender accessing sanitation,” says Meghana Sahoo, a transgender activist.
Census 2011 data says the number of transgender in India is 4.88 lakh, and in Odisha it is 20,332. However, the transgender population could be more than 40,000 and a concrete survey would tell about the more accurate figure. The Government of Odisha has provisioned to include 14,000 transgender persons in AntodayaYojana that mandates the existence of the group with a high number.
But when it comes to sanitation, the number is very minimal. A person has to have ration card and Aadhaar card in his/her name to avail the household toilet benefit under SBM programme. But, due to shift in identity, it’s difficult for a transgender person to issue the valid documents and avail benefits.
The banks still feel reluctant to issue bank account in the name of a transgender person. At the same time, the service delivery mechanism has not penetrated much to generate awareness among the community about their rights and entitlements. Hence, the percentage of issuance of household toilet in transgender person’s name is negligible.
In many slums of the urban bodies in Odisha, there are average two toilet seats for 50 transgender persons, which has a far-reaching impact on their health, livelihood, education and life style. Access to water is also another issue that blends with the toilet, which forces them to practice open defecation.
Mainstreaming the marginalised is a myth unless they have access to basic amenities i.e. toilet per say.
Public toilets and sanitation facilities in general need to cater all categories of people including those parts of the ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex' (LGBTI) community.
This is a human rights issue with respect to rights to water and sanitation and from the perspective of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 and 5, which aims for universal access to sanitation and water and gender equality.
Transgender identity is a right affirmed and upheld by the Supreme Court in its National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) judgment. Hence, the Government is responsible to mainstream transgender persons in every possible way and provision for inclusive facilities and infrastructures to gratify the need of all including transgender persons.
To build a consensus on design, planning and delivery of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services, equitable sanitation services to most vulnerable and marginalised communities living in urban poor is a need of the hour that the Government should think through.
Access to safe sanitation facilities should include all despite race, sex, class, caste, gender and disability and the Government should plan and execute programmes in such a way that no one should left behind including transgender people as right holders. Secondly, participation of all stakeholders for ensuring effective social integration of transgender persons to access public amenities is vital. Guidelines should specify clearly to maintain proper standards and incorporate gender neutral features in sanitation facilities catering the need of transgender and lastly change in perception of people to see transgender person as human not as alien.
(The writer works as a project manager at the Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR), Bhubaneswar. The views expressed are personal)
