Battling bias, stigma and systemic inequality: India's trans community

She is currently actively engaged in raising awareness and educating people to exercise franchise in a bid to boost the voter turnout in Bhopal, the capital of central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, in the upcoming assembly elections.

As a transgender, Sanjana is the first person from her community to secure a government job in the state and was posted in the Social Justice and Disabled Welfare Department in 2018. Additionally, she also serves as a para-legal volunteer in the Civil Legal Services Authority and is a member of the division bench in Lok Adalat or People’s Courts where she participates in the arbitration of cases.

The State Election Commission has designated her as the state icon for the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh so that she may encourage people to participate in the democratic process by casting votes.

On the occasion of Transgender Awareness Week celebrated from November 13 to November 19, she told Global South World, “I reach out among the people and my aim is to inspire them to vote.”

LOW NUMBER OF REGISTERED TRANSGENDER VOTERS

According to Sanjana, there are merely 1,373 voters from the transgender community in the state although their population here is about 30,000

While the highest numbers of transgender voters are in Bhopal Central seat, there are 16 such assembly seats in the state where there is not even a single registered voter from the community.

Explaining the low numbers of registered voters in her community, Sanjana said, “Establishing oneself as transgender is challenging and the lengthy procedure discourages many from obtaining a transgender identity card.”

Belonging to a community that earns its livelihood by dancing, singing and begging, Sanjana has carved out a distinct identity for herself and serves as a role model for other members of her society as she is not only holding a government job but also participating in social service. 

Although she believes that the status of transgender is changing in society, still there is a lack of awareness among the people. She says, “The attitude of the people, who are initially helpful and caring, changes once they discover that she is a transgender.”

Sanjana believes that the life of transgender is not very easy; they have to face bias throughout their life.

FAMILIES DISCARD TRANSGENDER PEOPLE AGAINST THEIR WILL

Sanjana explains families have to throw out transgender individuals due to societal pressure often against their will.

Sanjana rues that political parties do not prioritize her community but she wants more and more people of her class to come forward and make their mark as she has done.

She says, “If the government wants to bring about equality then we should be provided education and job opportunities to help us move ahead.”

FIRST TRANSGENDER MLA ELECTED IN 2000

Madhya Pradesh elected the first transgender MLA Shabnam Mausi in 2000. She won the election from Sohagpur assembly seat by 18,000 votes. Her victory was perceived as a new beginning and an extraordinary event in Indian politics. Later, another transgender Kamla Jaan was also elected Mayor from Katni in Madhya Pradesh, but soon people became disillusioned with this community in politics.

In April this year, the Madhya Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, included transgenders in the Other Backward Class (OBC) category to grant them reservation and other benefits. But not only the OBC members but also the transgender community protested against this.

Transgender people themselves were also unhappy with this decision, arguing that their community encompasses people from all sections, making it unrealistic to put them in a single category.