Good news for third gender: Bhopal gets its first public toilet for transgenders

Bhopal: In some good news for transgenders, Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Monday inaugurated a toilet in the Mangalwara area for their exclusive use.On the occasion, Chouhan announced that the government would rope in people belonging to the third gender to create awareness about government schemes, especially those related to sanitation.[caption id="attachment_4104263" align="alignleft" width="380"] Representational image. Reuters[/caption]He said he would convene a 'third gender panchayat' at his residence to redress their problems and that the state government would provide an additional assistance of Rs 1.5 lakh to members of the community for constructing houses under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana."The third gender is yet to get the respect it deserves. My government will ensure equal rights to them. The administration will also be directed to take stringent action against anti-social elements that defame the community," he said.Bhopal Mayor Alok Sharma claimed the toilet, constructed by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC), was the first of its kind in the country.A senior BMC official said the toilet, built at a cost of Rs 35 lakh, also has a "change room/make-up room".Different signs for men, women, handicapped and transgender people are emblazoned on the doors of the toilet.Transgender people live in large numbers in the Mangalwara locality.