After Mysore and Bhopal, Kerala becomes the third Indian city to have a separate toilet for the transgender community. A Kerala Government college has constructed an exclusive toilet for third gender community to push to transgender rights.
Toilets have always been a flashpoint for transgender rights. Earlier, the Central government had urged all the state governments in a circular to allow third-gender community members to use toilets made for both men and women community in public places.
This development in Kerala is an outcome of efforts of a transgender student of a government college in the state. Riya Isha, an Economics student had shifted to Malappuram, in Northern Kerala two years back had been facing discrimination from the local residents because of her gender. This triggered her to make attempt to bring a change at least in her college.
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She approached her college authority and demanded for a separate toilet in the college premises. Thankfully, the authorities understood her and cooperated with her need and get the exclusive toilet constructed for her in a time period of two weeks.
“There are students who come from orthodox backgrounds, who don’t like us using the same toilets as them. Some girls even turned their backs on seeing me. But there are others in the college, including the authorities, who are extremely friendly and helpful,” said Riya Isha in a conversation with The News Minute.
“We have a two-seat reservation in all government colleges. My personal view is that we should study in government colleges only, and should have access to the benefits that the government provides us,” added Riya.
Riya is a graduate in Fashion Designing and currently pursuing a second graduation in Economics.
