Recognition gives transgenders a voice

Hyderabad: The Supreme Court recognising transgenders as the third gender in India just weeks before the elections in Andhra Pradesh has brought relief to the 55,000 strong transgender community, which includes transgenders, hijras and MSMs (Men Having Sex with Men) across the state.

Indian is the first country in the world to announce a legal third gender.

As per the Supreme Court declaration, transgenders should get all rights which every male and female in the country irrespective of class, caste, creed and religion are entitled to.

As per an official release from the State Election Commission, the number of people who did not want to be placed under male or female categories stood at 2,897. Whereas across the country, a total of 28,314 identified themselves as transgender and their gender is listed as “other”.

With three members from the community contesting for the elections this time in the state, they now say that they can be a voice for addressing issues of the people from the community.

From the Aam Aadmi Party, Shaik Sameera will contest from Jammalamadugu in Kadapa and  Alekhya will contest from Nellore, whereas Damala Mery is contesting as an independent candidate from Khammam.

Mery is the project director of Prabhatam Welfare Society that works for more than 2,000 transgenders from in and around Khammam. “We are all registered voters and are socially responsible. The whole outlook of the society towards us has always been demeaning and this is what we want to change. We want to live with the society and work for people. This judgement is overwhelming,” Mery said.

Whereas Aarthi, project director of Avagaahana Group, the first transgender project in Andhra Pradesh, said that job opportunities is the main hurdle. “Now that we have been recognised, the society must also try to accept us. The next government that will be formed should not ignore us. We must also have the freedom to choose our lives. Many from the community got into prostitution etc. because of unemployment and now that we have opportunities, we want to make good use of it.”

The National AIDS Control Organisation did a mapping of the transgender community recently. As per the data available at APSacs, there are a total of 55,000 members from the community, with TG and hijras accounting for 5,500 and MSM about 50,000. In the city, there are 5,000 TGs with hijras being 1,500 and 3,500 being MSMs.

Kailashaditya, joint director, APSacs said, “In India, even an unborn child has rights and this judgement is welcome. Many transgenders who work with us are well qualified, being engineers, newsreaders, anchors and more. They should be equally involved in the society and its affairs.”

K. Jayakumar, team leader, technical support unit, APSacs said that the SC has also recommended a Transgender Welfare Board.

“Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra already have these boards and setting these up will give them more confidence. From now on, we have to focus on bringing out the hidden population and create awareness of welfare schemes.”