Manish Kumar
Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, April 25: Transgenders across the city erupted in joy after getting to know that the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha.
The upper house of Parliament, for the first time in 45 years, has passed a private members’ bill, OP has learnt.
The Bill, that paves the way for a law in the near future, promises reservations in education and jobs and social inclusion for the marginalised group.
The move was hailed by transgender groups across the city, who called it a sign of better things to come and hoped for it to be passed in Lok Sabha at the earliest.
“We are very happy, and welcome the move to bring in a much sought-after Bill on the rights of transgenders. We’re hopeful that it becomes law in the near future. We can now rightfully aspire for the safeguarding of our rights and our dignity,” said Meghna, a transgender and a graduate from Utkal University.
Meghna told this newspaper that while she has been witness to a gradual change in societal attitudes towards them, she feels there is still a long way to go in terms of job opportunities, education and social security.
“Our community has been fighting for our rights for the last 15 years. The landmark judgment by the Supreme Court in April last year recognising transgenders as the third gender brought cheer to the whole community living in India, but one year down the line, there is still much left to be desired. We’re still being discriminated and are deprived of our rights,” says Pratap Sahoo, president of All Orissa Eunuch Association.
Sahoo said he believes that the state government has failed to implement the apex court order in letter and spirit, thus leaving the transgender community in the state to fend for itself.
Many in the state meanwhile are disappointed with the state government for not ensuring the rights of the third gender. Sadhana Mishra, a transgender activist from the state, said she was saddened as Orissa was not able to follow the lead of other states.
“We are saddened by the state of affairs in our state. Many states like Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh have already appointed State Welfare Boards for the third gender but Orissa has not taken any step in this regard. We have submitted our charter of demands to the state government several times, but nothing has progressed.” Sadhana is also disappointed that no provisions for separate public toilet, separate wards in hospitals and hardly any provisions for third gender category in application forms in colleges and jobs have been offered despite clear instructions from the apex court and UGC.
However, undeterred activists and members of the third category are leaving no stones unturned in raising their voice for their rights. Recently, several transgenders April 14 celebrated Orissa Transgenders’ Day for the first time in order to commemorate the landmark apex court judgment declaring them as the third gender, and asked stakeholders to ensure their right to equality is not compromised.
In July last year, the University Grants Commission also wrote to different universities to ensure equal rights to the third gender and extend scholarships to community members. Recently, the regulatory body also sent letters to different educational institutions to ensure equal rights to them.
