Bhopal: The transgender voters in the city are elated that they will cast their votes under their own gender identity in Lok Sabha elections. ‘Third Gender’, say the newly issued voter identity cards to transgender voters. The eunuchs in the state have got recognition as a category distinct from male and female for the first time. In 2018 assembly polls held five months earlier, the transgenders had to vote either as males or females.
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According to 2011 census, the total transgender population of Madhya Pradesh is 29,597 of which 3,409 are children in the age-group 0-6 years. As per updated voter list, there are 1,423 registered transgender voters in the state. “Better late than never” is what they said, when Free Press sought their reaction to Election Commission’s move to recognise them as third gender. Excerpts of their reactions:
Sanjana Singh Rajput, 36, first transgender ,MP govt employee
I have been voting since age of 21 as a female. I am happy that Election Commission has given us separate identity and I will be voting as third gender this time. Jobs for third gender people should not be limited to social justice department as is currently the case. To bring transgender into mainstream of society, awareness campaigns should be launched along lines of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao.
Devi Singh Rana, 28, Devi Rani Kinnar ,Samaj founder
For past 10 years, I was voting as a male in elections. But in the coming polls, I will vote as a third gender. I have got my original identity now. Naturally, I am happy. It is a big achievement for us. To give us an equal status in society, we should be provided educational, housing facilities and also employment.
Anjali, 21, student
It is good that we are no longer required to slot ourselves in artificial categories of male and female. But stigma is still there. Whenever I go out with my friends, they are ridiculed by policemen. An oft repeated comment is, “Should we tell your parents that you are going around with a hinjra?” This stigma should go. We should also be able to do what males and females can do in public.
Moni Singh ,25, social activist
What Election Commission has done is welcome. I am very happy. Now, I will be known by my distinct identity. We should be allowed to live a normal life and should not be discriminated against at any place whether it is police station or our friend circle. The society’s mindset should change. Traditionally, members of our community are known for moving from house to house, seeking ‘badhai’. But now youths of our community are getting educated. We should be provided jobs.
EC’s decision to grant ‘Third Gender’ status to transgender people doesn’t only have a symbolic value but it would save them from many legal complications. A year after Kamla Jaan was elected as mayor of Katni Municipal Corporation in 2009, her election was set aside by MP High Court on the ground that Kamla Jaan had contested from a municipal ward reserved for women while mayor was classified as a male in voter list.
