Eunuchs demand third gender category
Posted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 6:05 pm
This was taken from http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/new ... s&id=10059
Coimbatore, Apr 11 (ANI):
Eunuchs in Tamil Nadu are pressing for a third gender category in voting lists so that they can exercise their franchise.
Under present laws, though eunuchs are allowed to vote, they are referred to as males and are often in fact not listed at all.
Known as "hijras", in popular parlance, they are basically males castrated at puberty but are considered as "she" and have been for centuries, ridiculed and reviled for their different sexuality. In recent years however Indian eunuches have been asserting their presence in society with some even bidding for high public offices. In Madhya Pradesh two posts of city mayors are held by eunuchs who beat popular candidates in a heavily-attended electoral process. Battling ostracisation, they have grouped to form welfare associations and are demanding right to employment, marriage and also child adoption amongst other things.
"In this democratic country every citizen, caste and community has been given all rights and freedom but the eunuchs have been neglected in everything, from voting rights to the other facillities being given by the government. We are going to fight for our rights, we are living a peaceful life so we want the freedom to vote and also all the other facililties provided by the government to the backward classes and other communities," Seetha, president of the eunuchs welfare forum in Coimbatore, said.
But for all the effort, ground realities speak different. Ninety percent of the Hijras still live in extreme poverty, have a close to nil participation in regular occupations and earn a living only by collecting cash "gifts" on auspicious occasions.
Groups of them wearing heavy make-up and colourful saris turn up uninvited at wedding parties and leave only after receiving generous cash donations. Sarath Kumar, a social worker, said it was time the people and the government woke up to their plight.
"I think they should be given a right to vote, in whatever aspect they want to. They are also God's creation, that is my view. They should not be neglected. As long as they are citizens of the country, they should vote," Kumar said.
There are no official estimates of India's hijra population, but unofficial estimates peg the number at around 500,000.
Coimbatore, Apr 11 (ANI):
Eunuchs in Tamil Nadu are pressing for a third gender category in voting lists so that they can exercise their franchise.
Under present laws, though eunuchs are allowed to vote, they are referred to as males and are often in fact not listed at all.
Known as "hijras", in popular parlance, they are basically males castrated at puberty but are considered as "she" and have been for centuries, ridiculed and reviled for their different sexuality. In recent years however Indian eunuches have been asserting their presence in society with some even bidding for high public offices. In Madhya Pradesh two posts of city mayors are held by eunuchs who beat popular candidates in a heavily-attended electoral process. Battling ostracisation, they have grouped to form welfare associations and are demanding right to employment, marriage and also child adoption amongst other things.
"In this democratic country every citizen, caste and community has been given all rights and freedom but the eunuchs have been neglected in everything, from voting rights to the other facillities being given by the government. We are going to fight for our rights, we are living a peaceful life so we want the freedom to vote and also all the other facililties provided by the government to the backward classes and other communities," Seetha, president of the eunuchs welfare forum in Coimbatore, said.
But for all the effort, ground realities speak different. Ninety percent of the Hijras still live in extreme poverty, have a close to nil participation in regular occupations and earn a living only by collecting cash "gifts" on auspicious occasions.
Groups of them wearing heavy make-up and colourful saris turn up uninvited at wedding parties and leave only after receiving generous cash donations. Sarath Kumar, a social worker, said it was time the people and the government woke up to their plight.
"I think they should be given a right to vote, in whatever aspect they want to. They are also God's creation, that is my view. They should not be neglected. As long as they are citizens of the country, they should vote," Kumar said.
There are no official estimates of India's hijra population, but unofficial estimates peg the number at around 500,000.