We're not 'others': Transgenders demand EC recognition as 3rd gender

As Maharashtra gears up for Assembly polls, the transgender community is at loggerheads with the Election Commission with the latter refusing to accept the community’s demand to be recognised as ’transgenders’ or ’third gender’ on voter identification cards and on the electoral rolls, as opposed the ‘others’ label used for them currently. A report in the Times of India, quoted Neha Kene, an activist, as saying, that the term eunuch used on passports is offensive. “If ’transgender’ or ’third gender’ are used on electoral rolls, it will benefit us greatly while dealing with other government departments,” said Kene. [caption id=“attachment_1480783” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Image used for representational purposes only. AFP[/caption] In the run up to the elections, the Supreme Court had recognised trangenders –a decision hailed by political parties. During the Lok Sabha elections, the EC had included a column for “others” even before the verdict came out. “If the marginalised sections get voting rights, politicians start caring for them as potential voters. We want the maximum number of such people in the voting age to be enrolled in the electoral list so that they can vote in the coming elections,” Vijay Dev, Chief Electoral Officer of Delhi had said explaining the rationale behind the EC’s moves. However, the use of the word ‘others’ to describe them has not helped the community. “I am no ‘other’. I am not a tree, I am not a bus, I am not a train, a dog or a cat. I am a person. I want my identity. I am a transgender, a hijra,” Noori told IBNLive in the run up the assembly polls in Delhi last year. Citing the 2011 census, the TOI report says there are 4.9 lakh transgenders in the country, of whom 41,000 or 0.8% are in Maharashtra. “Even on the job application form, the government has no option for us to apply,” Nisha told IBNLive.