Survival Of Transgenders In India

Transgenders are the people whose gender identity is different from our stereotypical gender norms. They are not related to the sexual orientation of oneself but instead, it means the relationship between gender identity or gender expression and a person’s biological sex. In the Indian scenario, the several types of people who were identified as transgender are eunuchs (hijras or kinnars), Shiv Shaktis, aradhis etc (difference). Hijras are the ones who are identified as male biologically but denied male identity whereas shiv shaktis are that transgender which are males having feminine gender expression and aradhis are woman wrapped in a male body.

Although they are part of Indian society since the time immemorial yet they are segregated from mainstream society and regarded as abnormal people. They suffer from various discrimination in their daily lives and they also face violence and abuse from the members of the society. Generally, they are expelled out of their family and given to the gurus. The guru is head of the community of this transgender. It is very rare to find a transgender living in mainstream society due to the stereotypical and discriminatory behavior of society towards them.

In recent times, LGBTQ has been recognized by various country and it includes India too. Also, various countries are making efforts to give equal rights to this community and merge them with mainstream society but the problem is that whenever government or legislature talks about the rights of the LGBTQ community as a whole whereas, in reality, the needs of “T” (transgender) are different from other members of “LGB”( lesbian, gay, bisexual) community.

NEED FOR GOVERNMENTAL-AID

Social exclusion-Transgender are socially excluded by their families so they do not get any social or economic support from their families.

Expulsion from parental form- Generally they live alone or in a community belonging to transgender people.

Lack of education or skill-For their survival they beg on red lights as there is a lack of education and they are not offered any jobs due to social exclusion.

STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT TILL DATE

In 2012, the 12th five-year plan (2012-2017) was proposed which included schemes like housing facilities for transgender, access to healthcare, skill development programs which will help them in getting jobs and thus improving their financial conditions. This plan aimed at the third gender.

Right of transgender person bill, 2014 was proposed in December 2014 and passed in Rajya Sabha on 24th April 2015. It included various chapter and clauses which talked about providing financial and economic aid and education to transgender people, helping them in skill development. Chapter-vii provides for establishing national and state committees that can formulate policies for the help of transgender people. Chapter- V makes it mandatory to reserve 2 percent seats in government school as well as government jobs. In October 2014 UGC issued circular to all the universities for including a separate column for the third gender and also formulate guidelines to prevent ragging of the third gender.

RECOMMENDATIONS

There is a need to take an inclusive approach to transgender members. The government should take steps to merge them into mainstream societies. Although the government had formulated various policies from time to time no implementation is seen to date. So it’s high time for the government to take steps for the implementation of already formulated policies.

Special Educational institutions shall be established to educate these people, helping them in career planning, counseling them and providing guidance. These educational institutions can also provide jobs as a teacher to educate transgender people.

Transgender people require special healthcare facilities so special policies should be framed for them to fulfill their healthcare requirements. All the hospitals and clinics can help the government in imparting these facilities.

There is an urgent need to remove discrimination against transgender people and take step toward social inclusion. This is possible through awareness programs. Mandatory provision for organizing awareness programs in schools, colleges, localities can help in the elimination of social stigma related to transgender.

Members of the transgender community which belong to older age groups should be given pensions for their survival as they are unable to take up any jobs due to their age factor.

CONCLUSION

In India, the reason for discrimination against transgender people is lack of sex education amongst the population, people are blindly following what is taught to them without knowing the actual reality. Transgender people are part of our society since time immemorial and still, they are facing discrimination on a daily basis. We need to understand that they are human beings and they have all the rights which a human being is entitled to. The government has taken steps, amended provisions, formulated policies from time to time but it failed to make any major impact on the status and living standard of transgender people. There is a need to adopt a balanced understanding of the complicated life of these people and help them grow and prosper.

[The author Abhilasha is a 3rd year Ba.LLB student from Vivekananda Institute of Professional Studies, GGSIPU, New Delhi, India]