Nagpur: For a transgender person a toilet at a state transport bus stand, there was no toilet meant for them. The state govt has now sanctioned Rs 9.77 crore to build separate toilets for transgender persons at ST bus stands across Maharashtra.In a govt resolution (GR) issued on Wednesday, the transport department gave administrative approval for a combined estimate of Rs 9,76,63,195 covering 31 ST divisions. The GR says the absence of a separate toilet at bus stands forces transgender persons to face social and physical difficulties and causes them considerable distress.Vidarbha’s nine ST divisions together get about Rs 2.71 crore. Amravati has the largest share in the region at Rs 50.74 lakh, followed by Nagpur at Rs 48.40 lakh, Yavatmal at Rs 36 lakh, Buldhana at Rs 33.83 lakh and Bhandara at Rs 31.46 lakh. Chandrapur gets Rs 20.43 lakh, Akola Rs 19.48 lakh, Wardha Rs 16.94 lakh and Gadchiroli Rs 13.75 lakh. Across the state, Kolhapur division gets the highest allocation at Rs 55.20 lakh and Latur the lowest at Rs 9.60 lakh.The proposal came from the ST corporation’s vice-chairperson and managing director, after the minister of state for urban development, transport and social justice, among other portfolios, directed that the transport department give approval without delay. The cost will be met from the social justice department’s funds for setting up a welfare board for transgender persons and protecting their rights.The sanction comes with conditions. Layout and detailed plans must be approved by architects before work begins, a detailed estimate must be prepared, and the executive engineer concerned must give technical sanction. The GR does not say how many toilets will be built or at which bus stands, as the annexure lists only division-wise lump sums.
