Transgenders in Karnataka threaten to go on protest

Transgenders in Karnataka have threatened to go on war path if the state government failed to implement the promises it had made to them within two months.

Chief minister BS Yeddyurappa had recently promised a delegation of transgenders that the sexual minorities would be provided a monthly pension of Rs400. He had also assured them that they would be provided voter ID cards and a directorate would be set up to exclusively deal with their problems. Yeddyurappa’s promises were raised by the transgenders during a “tribunal on millennium development goals (MDG) and transgenders” held in Bangalore on Wednesday.

“We are negotiating with the state government and hopefully by two months time, the authorities will chalk out laws to facilitate the sexual minorities. If not, then we will have to launch a movement,” said Shubha Chako, interim director of Sangama, one of the organisers,” said.

The delegates underlined that the problems they faced had to do not only with discrimination but also dignity.  “The MDG recognises the rights of sexuality minorities but the working towards it has been rather slow. Societal discrimination has forced us into illegal jobs,” said Vasanthi Kumar, head of Mangalamukhi, a group of trangenders.

Payana and Mangalamukhi are jointly organising a free eye check-up programme for sexuality minorities this month-end.