"Today, everyone is talking about 33% reservation for women empowerment and need of reservation for the scheduled castes, tribes and other minor communities. Silently, a strange group of people are fading away from the society's view.
Who are they?
The Eunuchs- the Trans genders- the third sex- the kothis- the Hijra's.
Whatever be the name, they are one species of the HUMAN race who are born with a male physique and grow with a female psyche.
Is this their problem?
Of course not! It is the game played by nature during the maturity stage of the male sex. Purely the male sex. This is the stage when they enter into the stage of severe conflict about their own identity and get carried away by an urge to find a new identity. Unfortunately, denied any kind of social support.
Then another pain starts when they start seeking for a group of their own identity. When they join the group of eunuchs for social support, they need to take up a gender transformation surgery (process of removing the male genital organs). Since this kind of surgery is still not legally recognized, they are done in the most haphazard manner i.e., other eunuchs (Guru amma) performing it in the most unhygienic conditions. No anesthetics- no theaters. The surgery is over. One can here realize the pain a eunuch is undergoing during and after the process of this surgery. If at all some private hospitals do such a surgery, they charge a handsome amount as it is against the law.
When people long for recognition, they are the ones who do not want to be or dwell in the fear of being identified. It is because of the wrong projection of these transgenders by the media. How do we come to know about them?
* Clapping their hands
* Asking for money during good occasions
* Making odd movements
* Unusual dressing
Are they just this? How do they live? What kind of security does this society or Government offers them? This is a question left unanswered so long. Because they are totally ignored by the society, these eunuchs are pushed into a state of taking up sex work or begging as their means for livelihood that too under severe harassment of the Gundas and the police.
When they are out of their homes, if at all they have any,
* How do they travel?
* Do they get a seat?
* Which toilet will they use?
* Whom will they marry?
* Who will protect them in their final days?
These are some issues that pester the ultimate existence of the transgenders. Should they go through such a pain for the biological craziness? Why do we- educated, supposed to be rational human beings- absolutely ignore the existence of the third sex? When we know that there is a third sex, why don't the columns in application forms carry an extra word in the column of sex? Just because of this issue these people are devoid of
* Their citizenship rights
* Property rights
* Human rights
* Right to vote
* Eligibility for passport
* Obtaining driving license
* Ration card
* Opening a bank account
* Enjoying any Government scheme
Since this exploitation starts at the schools itself, they fear to face such an environment, thus discontinuing their studies. So no education- no job- no earning – no savings. How do we expect them to live? Because they are eunuchs, they need to pay more house rentals and face many such problems."
There is a strong need for a more sensitive approach in exploring these issues is required. The Government, NGO's and common people should start focusing their attention on addressing the needs of the third sex. As an educated class, we should strive to work for the advancement of this gender through:
Exploring opportunities and suggesting possibilities to the policy makers.
Courtesy: Ms. G. Barani
