Himachal takes lead in constructing toilets for Specially abled and transgenders in Judicial complexes

Apropos to the orders of the Supreme court to construct separate toilets for transgenders and specially abled in all the public courts and tribunal premises, the Himachal Government has taken a lead for constructing such washrooms in all the court complexes within the State, stated official spokesperson of PWD department here today.

He informed that till 9th October this year, 52 such toilets, viz: 27 for transgenders and 25 for the persons with disability have been constructed in judicial court complexes in district Shimla, Kangra, Solan, Hamirpur, Bilaspur, Una, Mandi, Chamba and Kinnaur by the PWD department. The work on the rest of the 34 was in progress in Sirmaur, Kullu and in other Judicial court complexes.  Besides, 13 more toilets will be constructed in court complexes upon the availability of the land this year for which the process was underway for identifying the same.

 It was under the directions of Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, that the funds amounting to the tune of around Rs. 1.50 crore was released immediately  for the same and additional funds of around Rs. 1.13 crore for completion of the remaining toilets would soon be released by the Government, stated Secretary PWD Abhishek Jain.

 The Rule 10 (5) and 10 (9) of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules 2020 mandates for creation of specific infrastructure including washrooms for transgender persons in establishments and envisages this responsibility on appropriate government. The Rule 12 (4) also provides that every establishment shall implement equal opportunity policy including infrastructure facilities such as unisex toilets.

A committee was formed under the Chairmanship of Justice Satyen Vaidya in which Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Finance, Secretary PWD, Engineer-in chief PWD and President Bar Association are the members. To further expedite the process, a sub-committee was constituted under District and session judges to monitor the progress and get the facilities constructed in all the Judicial fora and to provide amenities for persons with disabilities and maintain the same.