Angry that their long-standing demand of a shelter home for senior citizens and homeless from their community in the city has not yet been met, transgenders have called for a pink rally to pressure the government
Hundreds of transgenders will converge on August Kranti Maidan on January 25 for the rally. Representation pic
Angry that their long-standing demand of a shelter home for senior citizens and homeless from their community in the city has not yet been met, transgenders have called for a pink rally to pressure the government. Hundreds of transgenders will converge on August Kranti Maidan on January 25, demanding fundamental rights such as health services, shelter homes, and welfare and development schemes from the state government.
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The rally is organised by an NGO, Kinnar Maa Trust, which works for the upliftment of transgenders. Speaking to mid-day, an office bearer of Kinnar Maa Trust, Priya Patil said, "For past one year we have been following up with the government regarding the allocation of a shelter home in Mulund east, but nothing has happened. Our demand is tossed from one department to another. We had written a letter to the suburban collector’s office to initiate the work, but they forwarded it to the revenue department, and from there it was sent to Konkan Bhavan. Later it was again sent to the collector’s office. When we asked about an update on the proposal, they expressed their inability to process it further. They said we can’t do much unless the chief minister gives his approval."
She added, "We are back to square one. Transgenders have been given equality and rights but this is all on paper. Senior citizens from our community are suffering the most as they don’t have a place to shelter. They are forced to live on footpaths."
According to the trust, there are about 5,000 transgender senior citizens or hijras in Mumbai alone. Members associated with the trust, are in most cases, transgenders rejected by their family, society and they don’t get jobs easily. In such cases, the government should have development and welfare initiatives for them.
Another transgender associated with the trust said, "Why is the government not thinking about our issues? In 2014, the Supreme Court had asked the central and state governments to give us reservation in OBC (other backward class) category, but no steps have been taken towards this. We tried to meet the chief minister and give him details of the problems faced by us, but were not allowed to meet him."
Hundreds of transgenders will converge on August Kranti Maidan on January 25 for the rally. Representation pic
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