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People Around Us

The woman on the late bus, a person of another gender, someone who can't manage the step - civic sense is also, simply, how we treat each other when nobody is making us.

Every gender. Same respect.

Treat women, men, and transgender and non-binary people with the same everyday respect - use the name and pronoun they give you, and never mock, stare, or shut anyone out.

Here's the science
  1. What happensTreating a transgender person as lesser
  2. HowIndian law legally recognises transgender persons and forbids any person or establishment from discriminating against them in education, employment, healthcare and access to public services
  3. SoDenying a transgender person equal respect or access is unlawful, not a matter of personal preference
Official count - government recordIN
“No person or establishment shall discriminate against a transgender person on any of the following grounds”

This states the statutory right, not a measured outcome. The 2019 Act followed the Supreme Court's NALSA v. Union of India (2014) judgment, which recognised transgender people as a third gender.

Source: The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, Section 3 (Prohibition against discrimination) - Parliament of India (statute text reproduced by Indian Kanoon)(checked 2026-07-18)

And when we do it

A place where every gender is treated as an equal is simply a place more people can live, learn, work and move through without fear.

You couldn't have known. Now you do.

Equal, by right. Not by favour.

Give people of every sex the same turn, the same voice, the same seat at the table. Equality is not a favour anyone hands out - the Constitution already calls it a right.

Here's the science
  1. What happensTreating someone as inferior because of their sex
  2. HowThe Constitution of India bars the State from discriminating against any citizen on grounds only of sex, among other grounds
  3. SoEqual treatment regardless of sex is a constitutional guarantee, not a favour to be granted or withheld
Official count - government recordIN
“The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them.”

This is the verbatim text of Article 15, clause (1); it binds the State and states the constitutional right, not a measured outcome.

Source: Constitution of India, Article 15 - Constitution of India (text hosted by constitutionofindia.net / Centre for Law & Policy Research)(checked 2026-07-18)

And when we do it

When a room, a workplace or a home treats every sex as equal, it draws on everyone's talent instead of only half of it.

You couldn't have known. Now you do.

Give everyone room to just be.

Let people move through public places without being stared at, followed, or hit on - most of all women and girls, who face it most. Room is a kindness. Under the law, it is also a duty.

Here's the science
  1. What happensStaring at, following, or making unwanted advances toward someone in public
  2. HowUnder the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, a man who follows a woman or repeatedly tries to contact her to force personal interaction despite her clear disinterest commits the criminal offence of stalking
  3. SoSuch conduct is a punishable offence - imprisonment and a fine - not merely rude behaviour
Official count - government recordIN
“Any man who, (i) follows a woman and contacts, or attempts to contact such woman to foster personal interaction repeatedly despite a clear indication of disinterest by such woman; or (ii) monitors the use by a woman of the internet, e-mail or any other form of electronic communication, commits the offence of stalking”

This is the statutory definition of the offence (Section 78, the successor to IPC Section 354D from 1 July 2024), not a measured outcome. As worded, the provision addresses a man stalking a woman.

Source: Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Section 78 (Stalking) - Parliament of India (statute text reproduced by Devgan.in)(checked 2026-07-18)

And when we do it

When a street lets everyone pass unbothered, more people use it - later, more freely, and more safely for it.

You couldn't have known. Now you do.