Discrimination Against Transgender People in India

Transgender community is an imperative part of our society. Indeed, even law can’t deny their existence. In this research paper I will express my perspectives on the issues of transgender in a developing nation like India. Moreover, the issue of transgender is still in discussion, even after the Supreme Court of India remember them as third gender individuals. In India the transgender community were an ignored portion of society. Transgender are mostly powerless everywhere throughout the country.

Introduction

“Sex is what you are born with, gender is what you recognize and sexuality is what you discover”. - A. Chettiar

The roots of transgender in India dates back to thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. The transgender means an individual who is neither male nor female. The personality of transgender could be either manly body with lady like voice/conduct or female body with male voice/conduct. The transgender can be derived from Latin word which can be separated into two sections:-

1. Trans
2. Gender

The third gender known as transgender have existed in every religion, race and culture. The third gender i.e. transgender signifies those individuals who are different in their biological constructions. Their gender makes them different that’s why transgender people faces problems of discrimination in each and every part of society. They are not allowed to enjoy their basic rights like Right to personal Liberty, Freedom of expression, Right to Education. According to 2011census, the total transgender population is 4.98 lakh. People calls them by different names like Hijras, Kinnar (Eunuchs), Chakka, Aravanis, Shiv-Shakthis, Jogtas etc. When a child is born in any of the Hindu family, they come and give their blessings to the child and even at the time of marriages, they are invited to bless the couple. Except these two important situations they are treated as a curse for the society. The transgender falls under the category of LGBT group (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and transgender).

During the period of Mughals, transgender people enjoyed a respected position and they were considered as crucial in the society but after the coming of Britishers, their position got changed. The Vedic Literature mention them as “Tritiyaprakriti” meaning the third gender and Puranic literature mention them as “Napunsaka” meaning someone with the loss of procreative ability. In Indian culture transgender community had played an important role and they were once treated with respect which they don’t get now. They do jobs in the courts of Mughals rulers.

They were at times captured for dressing in ladies’ garments and for enjoying gay sex. Indeed, even today, they remain socially excluded – the separation based on their class and sex makes the Hijras locale a standout amongst the dis-engaged gatherings in Indian culture. Transgender are not treated as normal human individual in the general public. Transgender people have been continually attempting to locate an important and good position for themselves.

In Indian culture transgender community had played an important role and they were once treated with respect which they don’t get now.

They do jobs in the courts of Mughal rulers. They were at times captured for dressing in ladies garments and for enjoying gay sex. Indeed even today, they remain socially excluded- the separation based on their class and sex makes the Hijra locale a standout amongst the dis-engaged gatherings in Indian culture. Transgender are not treated as excepted individual in the general public. Transgender people have been continually attempting to locate an important and good position for themselves.

Problems Faced By the Transgender People

The transgender people are facing a lot of problems like:

• Discrimination
• Child-Nabbing
• Forced to leave parental home
• Forced to indulge in prostitution
• Given unwanted attention
• Not given entry to various places
• Physically abused
• Not access to education, health services
• Excluded from politics and decision making

This all tells us that the journey of a transgender person is very pathetic.

Efforts

1. The states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have implemented the formative arrangements for the transgender in India. The province of Tamil Nadu selected its first transgender Prithika Yashini to guarantee work to the third gender. The administration of Tamil Nadu set up a transgender welfare board in April 2008. The govt. has also likewise begun issuing separate sustenance ration cards for transgender individuals.
2. Kerala govt. drafted an approach known as “Transgender policy in 2015” keeping equivalent chances and uncommon reservation in all the areas.
3. In Jan 2018 onwards the govt. of Andhra Pradesh begun Rs 1500-/- annuity to each transgender.
4. The twelfth five year plan (2012-17) proposed strengthening to the transgender by giving them training, business, lodging and financial help. It also recommended that different section must be consolidated in all administrative and non-government record for the transgender.
5. The transgender persons (Protection of Rights) bill, 2016 in this a transgender individual must acquire a certificate of identity and this declaration would be issued by region judge on the suggestion of a screening committee. The board would involve a restorative officer, a psychologist or specialist, an administration official and a transgender individual.

Various transgenderisms who have earned their Name:

1. Sathyasn Sharmita: - she turned into India’s first transgender legal advisor. Evading the cliché outlook behind, she set a landmark by pursuing law with the goal of fighting against the injustice.
2. Joyite Mondal: - she turned into the principle judge as she was designated at Lok Adalat in North Bengal in oct 2017. She worked for the transgender rights associations.
3. Manabi Bandopadhyay she became the 1st transgender college principle of Krishnagar women’s college on June 7, 2015. Currently, she became the first transgender person who has completed Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Shabnam Mausi

1st transgender to become an MLA. She contested elections in local shahdol, Madhya Pradesh. She was not upheld by her family, she could not be able to go to the school, yet she practically adapted 12 languages. She tries to make mindfulness on HIV/AIDS. With her inspiration, in 2003, hijras set up their own political gathering called Jeeti Jitayi Politics (JJP).

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi

She adopted two grow up children as her kids. She served as a board member on a few NGO’s, which lead LGBT work. In 2002, she turned into the leader of the NGO Dai Welfare Society.

In Indian Context

The scene in Ramayana including transgender happens when Rama is expelled for 14 years. When he leaves for the forest, he pivots to see an expansive number of people following him. Rama orders “all the men and women” to return back to the city, but the transgender with him. Impressed by their devotion, Rama endorsed them the power to confer blessing on prosperous occasions like child birth and marriage.

Conclusion

After writing this research paper, I never have envisioned how hugely I will be affected. The standard of law is preeminent and everybody is equivalent according to the law. However, the transgender community is in a consistent fight, as they have to fight for oppression, abuse and segregation from all aspects of general public, regardless of whether its their own family or companions. Transgender have been continually struggling to locate a significant and respectable positions for themselves. Numerous researches have been done by many scholars so as to comprehend and clarify the issues faced by transgender. Several NGOs have made various efforts to provide their rights to transgender. It is a time that people of India ought to understand that each and every individual has equal rights and they should follow the policy of “live and let live others”.

School and parents are the primary sources that have the power to diminish discrimination against transgender. They can help to diminish some problems which transgender are facing. It is dreadful what they experienced and many people are imprudent. After the presentation of section 377 of Indian panel code, they recapture their acknowledgment which empowers them to battles for their rights and opportunities. Transgender are known by various names depended on topographical locale. Transgender in India has a place with LGBT classification which represent lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. They confront separation, different treatment and undue attention in their each and every phase of life. The government of India today has introduced a few welfare arrangements for transgender people. These include census, issuing of citizenship ID cards, passports. After a long battle till today transgender experience different dimensional issue like social obstructions separated from hereditary factors because of which they live a life of dissatisfaction throughout their life.