After Assam Election, Social Welfare Department to Set-up Public Toilets for Transgenders Community

STAFF REPORTER GUWAHATI:

Public Toilets Construction for Transgenders in Assam: "In accordance to the order of the Supreme Court and also Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitisation, the State Social Welfare Department will construct public toilets especially for transgenders in different parts of Assam after the forthcoming assam election," said All Assam Transgender Association (AATA) chairperson Swati Bidhan Baruah.

In an interaction with The Sentinel, Baruah said, "The government is planning to construct shelter homes for the transgenders as well identification cards for them. Our community is not given importance when they go to hospitals. Thus, the government is planning to provide medical facilities to them."

She underlined that the Social Welfare Department along with the AATA is trying to make the transgenders of the State self reliant by proving them skill development training.

"We are optimistic that through these initiatives the people from the transgender community will not have to ask money in railway stations and bus stoppages," said Baruah.

According to the ongoing survey of the Social Welfare Department, till date, there are more than 15,000 transgenders in the State as compared to 11,374 in 2011.

"The ongoing pandemic along with various other issues has forced a section of transgenders to return to their homeland from other States. This can be a reason for their increasing population in the State," Baruah pointed out.

Now only time will tell how much effort the government will put to implement all the promises they have made to the transgender community.

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