A group of 15,000 will file a PIL with 15 demands for the community
A group of 15,000 will file a PIL with 15 demands for the community
Fed up with unresponsive politicians, an organisation that represents the rights of hijras or eunuchs in the city plans to file a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court demanding specific rights for the community. 
Jatin Harne. pic/PRADEEP DHIVAR
The group is called Amma and is headed by Jatin Harne, a Ghatkopar-based eunuch who is fondly called Maharaj or Amma. It has over 15,000 members. Some representatives of the group met in Fort on Friday to discuss the PIL. They have also secured the help of an advocate to help them draft and file the petition.
"None of our morchas, dharnas or hunger strikes worked. The judiciary is above the government; so we decided to go to court," said Harne.
According to members of the group, they will list 15 specific demands in the PIL. These will include a demand for separate local train coaches and railway station toilets for eunuchs; and ration cards that have a separate category other than male and female. They want yellow ration cards to denote that they fall in the Below Poverty Line.
They also want eunuchs to be given the status of 'handicapped', and hope that they will be allowed to enjoy all special privileges that come with the status.
The group wants the Municipal Legislative Council in Mumbai to have a seat reserved for a member from the eunuch community.
Highlighting the troubles of hijras in boarding local trains, members of the group said male commuters tease and harass them in general compartments, while policemen don't allow them to board the ladies' compartments.
u00a0
According to the group, over 10 lakh hijras reside in Maharashtra, with between five to six lakh living in Mumbai and Thane alone. The group is also demanding housing for the community in MHADA colonies, basing their demands on the fact that the Tamil Nadu government has developed housing colonies for the hijra community.
"If the Tamil Nadu government can sanction crores of rupees for the community, why can't the Maharashtra government?" asked a member of the group.
To get more countenance for their demands, the group also wants to pull in the support of other members of the LGBT community. "We sympathise with the gay community and count them as one of us," said Harne.
ADVERTISEMENT
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
