His, hers, and now, theirs! Trust opens toilet for transgenders in Mumbai

Eunuchs have faced many atrocities in toilets, so they are glad about the dedicated toilet

For the first time in Mumbai, amidst the unorganised shanties of Govandi, proudly stands a toilet for the third gender. Opened by a trust called Ekta Hind Society, this toilet will cater to transgenders, mainly eunuchs, many of whom reside in the Bainganwadi area of Govandi.

"We witnessed a lot of atrocities against the eunuchs in our area when it came to using public toilets. I thought why not pitch in with some money and make room for some more?" said R A Sattar, President of Ekta Hind Society.

Shooed away
Speaking about the violence faced by the community, Sanjivani, a eunuch, said "There are times when we are forced to have sex in the men's toilet. So, of course, it's very risky, but the women don't accept you either. They ask us to leave saying we don't belong there. So where do we exactly belong?"

RA Sattar, president of the trust that manages the toilet, wants other trusts to adopt the idea. Pics/Pradeep Dhivaar

Sanjivani claims that as Govandi is a hub for drug addicts, they needed a step like this. "No one can deny the fact that the violence that happens in Govandi is unmatchable, not just for us but everyone. There are times when we go to the toilet and a man barges in. Teasing, molesting is a very normal activity for them. For us, it's a nightmare," Sanjivani added.

Though the toilet was always open to the community, there was a need to publicly acknowledge their presence in the area, so they could legitimately use it without fear, believe the Trust members. "I never stopped them from using the toilet, but now I have publicly announced it, with a separate board, so they can use it rightfully without fear. They can tell anyone who objects, "here, see the board,'" said Sattar.

Though this toilet is a sign of acceptance and inclusiveness, it did evoke a different reaction from some, like the trans men and trans women. CJ, a trans man (a woman who has undergone surgery to become a man), found the idea of a third gender toilet liberating, but thinks it could send a wrong signal in the community.

"Getting a toilet for the third gender might reinforce the idea among people that some of us, who look different, are hijras. Trans men, who have undergone surgery, want to be identified as men, not a third gender. The same goes for the women. We shouldn't be forced to use the third gender toilet, because we won't."

Trusts must adopt this
Sattar, whose trust has over 700 toilets, is on a mission to spread his message across the city and is asking trusts to adopt this plan, as it's the need of the hour. "I have asked trusts that manage the eunuch-heavy pockets of Mumbai, like Byculla, to do the same thing. If not a separate toilet, the toilet for the handicapped can be made inclusive of the eunuch community," said Sattar.

Sattar said that the new development has come after keeping in mind the High Court's order to make public facilities more inclusive of the third gender. Under the Slum Sanitation Program, he feels other trusts shouldn't have a problem adopting this plan. "What Sattar has done shouldn't be difficult, as he isn't flouting any BMC norms. We have been trying to get the BMC to take some concrete action in this field, but it's good to see citizens doing something like this on their own," said Hemant Mohite, a Right to Pee activist.