Construction of separate toilet for Transgender

An issue based successful advocacy case study

There are about 2000 Transgenders (TGs) residing in Omulur, Edappadi, Mettur and Attur towns in Salem district. The TGs face a lot of discrimination and are often subjected to many atrocities in the society. Often they are discriminated in public places such as Restaurants, Hotels and Toilets.

Salem Thirunangaigal Nala Sangam[1] NGO is working in Salem district. It is also managing the targeted intervention (TI) project focused on female sex workers (FSWs) and TGs. It is supported by TANSACS. The TGs in Omulur were facing extreme hardship with regard to the toilet facility. “Many times I was not allowed to enter the public female toilet located near the Omulur bus stand. I was made fun of as one lady told me I didn’t deserve to use it. There was extreme humiliation which I used to go through, says Meera[2],” a TG who is registered with the TI.

The TGs of Omulur district reached out to President of the NGO, Ms. Pooja, Mr. Kumar, PM TI, Mr. Baskar, Project Officer-TI, TNTSU. Under the mentorship of Mr. Baskar, PO – TSU, selected TG members from the community and Mr. Kumar a petition was presented to the District Collector (DC) in July 2016 requesting for separate toilets for TG. At the same time they also approached Ms. S. Umarani, Executive Officer of Omalur Panchayat for advocating the issue.

The DC gave orders to Ms. Umarani to take necessary action. She placed a resolution in the town Panchayat council meeting seeking approval for the construction of an exclusive toilet block in the Omalur bus stand. In September 2016, after the council gave its permission, a toilet and a bathroom were constructed from the general fund of the town Panchayat. Power and water connection is being provided round the clock for its operationalization. Currently, the service is offered free of cost. Moreover, the Panchayat has placed a sanitation worker who maintains the cleanliness and hygiene of the toilet block.

“The TGs face huge discrimination in our area. The TI staff especially Mr. Kumar and Mr. Baskar kept pursuing me to take the necessary action for the TGs toilet issue. I have done my bit in this issue and feel very good as at least today the TGs have a proper toilet,” says Ms. S Umarani.

“Being a TG myself I felt that it is such a big respite for my community now that the TG toilet facility is in operation,” says Ms. Pooja.

“Today we have been able to get the toilet facility near the most important area of our congregation. It is such a big relief that it has made me feel better. I used to earlier wait for half a day to use a toilet facility,” says Meera. “I just had to openly defecate out of no choice earlier, but today I feel a sense of dignity when I get to use a toilet,” says Veera[3], a TG registered with the TI.

“The biggest benefit of this toilet is it is near the bus stand, which is the most common place for the TGs to assemble. It is a place where we all congregate as we travel to nearby areas taking buses from here. We return in the evening to the same bus stop. Therefore, even if we get to relieve ourselves two times a day, it means a lot,” says Kritika[4], a TG registered with the TI.

“As this initiative has worked well with the support of the Government departments and TI the TNTSU will further make efforts for the initiation of the toilet facility for the TGs in other areas of Tamil Nadu,” concluded Mr. Baskar.

[1] A registered social organization in Salem, Tamil Nadu working for the Transgender community all over Tamil Nadu

[2] Name of the person has been changed to maintain the confidentiality

[3] Name of the person has been changed to maintain the confidentiality.

[4] Name of the person has been changed to maintain the confidentiality.