A gender-neutral toilet in Bengaluru

In a major initiative aimed at ­inclusiveness and to help the transgender community, a ­gender-neutral toilet complex, which can be accessed by all, including transgenders, has been constructed in ­Bengaluru by Rotary ­Bangalore Rajmahal Vilas, RI District 3192. Located opposite the ­Upparpete Police Station, near the Majestic KSRTC Bus Stand, the complex was inaugurated by RIDE K P Nagesh, who said he would like to replicate this initiative in other Rotary districts of India.

This toilet complex has been put up “recognising the lack of dedicated public toilet facilities for the transgender community in the city. This initiative addresses a fundamental right to safe and inclusive sanitation, aligning with the Supreme Court of India’s 2014 directive for separate transgender toilets in public spaces,” said RID 3192 IPDG V Srinivas Murthy.

He requested the club to take charge of the fundraising, site identification and construction of the complex. “Rotary focuses on impactful community projects. The non-availability of toilets for the trans-community often results in health issues for them as they avoid drinking sufficient water to avoid toilet use,” said IPDG Murthy. The health implications arising from this denial of a basic human right to a section of our community can well be imagined.

Through this initiative, “we hope to bridge that gap and inspire the government to adopt it as a model for future public toilets. We are all grateful to Kirti Mehta, past president of Rotary Bangalore Rajmahal Vilas, for his unwavering support in bringing this first-of-its-kind project to completion, in total alignment with Rotary’s DEI policy,” he said at the inaugural event.

This toilet complex has also been made accessible to ­physically-­challenged people and those using wheelchair, and comes equipped with grab bars and a bathing facility.

The non-availability of toilets for the trans-community often results in health issues for them as they avoid drinking sufficient water to avoid toilet use.

— IPDG V Srinivas Murthy

A crucial aspect of this project was selecting a well-frequented location and ensuring long-term sustainable ­maintenance. Sulabh International, a non-profit organisation dedicated to sanitation and human rights, collaborated with Rotary to adapt the existing infrastructure. Sulabh has constructed and is maintaining more than 10,000 public toilet complexes throughout the country.

As one who had “personally watched this struggle of transgenders,” he put in relentless work for this “dream project” by meeting the Chief Minister, other ministers and then approached Sulabh for this collaborative venture. “It is my fervent hope that we will be able to take this project pan-India,” Murthy said.

This project was appreciated by Brian Rusch, founding member of RI’s DEI Task Force who was recently in Bengaluru as RIPR to attend the South Asia Peace Conference. “I am excited to learn that Rotary District 3192 has put up a gender-neutral toilet. It echoes Rotary’s legacy, with our first service project in 1907 being public toilets in Chicago. Nearly 120 years later, this initiative extends that mission, ensuring inclusive facilities for transgender, non-binary individuals and gender non-conforming folks. I have no doubt this will inspire similar projects across India,” he said.

On the funds spent by the club on this project Mehta said that already a toilet existed at the place. “Our aim was to carry out some major alterations and make it accessible to everybody regardless of gender, particularly the transgenders and those using wheelchairs. For this work we spent nearly ₹8 lakh.”

He added that while Sulabh will be maintaining the facility, it has already been noticed by the local community and “we will be watching the usage for a few months. Depending on that, our club is open to working either in partnership with Sulabh or others to build another such facility, as we’ve had some expression of interest in this kind of facility at other locations from some people.”

Added Murthy, “District 3192 remains committed to fostering inclusive, equitable communities through transformative projects like this one.” He said that the Bengaluru corporation, inspired by this Rotary project, is now building 20 eco-friendly toilets and 40 hi-tech ‘Ezee’ toilets for men, women, disabled and gender minorities across the city at a total cost of ₹28.12 crore.

Ezee toilets, also called New Generation toilets, include sensor flushing urinals, commodes mounted on the wall and no open pipes. Sensors are installed on each tap to save water. There is a two-way drainage system and the treated water is used for urinals and toilets. Perforated sheets and polycarbonate sheets are installed for air and light. The toilets are being built in a precast model and will be completed in two months.