Shobha offers Hijras a patient ear

Are sex work and begging the only means of livelihood for the Hijra community, even the educated among them? Are slums the only places where they can find shelter? Sadly, yes.

Will they never find acceptance in mainstream society that recognises only two options under gender? The answers are hard to find. Sexual minorities continue to knock on doors closed to them.

“We too aspire for a normal life, a house in a good locality, a job, medical facilities. All we are faced with is harassment by police. We are deprived of basic rights,” said Veena, a member of the community at an event at Dasarahalli on Tuesday. More voices expressed frustration at being denied jobs, admission to educational institutions, entry to public toilets, sexual harassment and countless other atrocities. Despite being citizens of a democratic country, we have no passports, cannot enroll our names in the voters list, they complain. The list of woes is long, and it’s not new.

So what was different on Tuesday? Well, they were probably speaking at the right platform. For, sitting amidst them was former minister Shobha Karandlaje, listening patiently and making notes. When it was her turn to speak, the former minister presented her list of promises.

Landlords deny the Hijra community homes as they fear that they will engage in sex work from their premises. Even when Hijras seek a livelihood in other trades, they are denied entry to regular housing colonies as there are strongly entrenched beliefs about them, prejudices that will take time to erode. However, Karandlaje assured her audience that she would make efforts to provide them housing in areas coming under her jurisdiction.

“I cannot assure you houses under the Ashraya Scheme in areas you are residing in right now. If you are willing to move, we could look at areas like Yeshwantpur or Kengeri,” she said. An identity card would be like manna to the marginalised community.

Kannadigas and those born in the city and living here for a long time are eligible to get voter identification cards and ration cards. “I will speak on your behalf, but you have to assure me your support. Hijras are seen as nuisance-makers. I have heard people complain that two-wheeler riders are harassed at traffic signals by beggars, mostly men dressed up as women and pretending to be women. These issues would be brought up when I discuss offering help to the community. I request your cooperation to reduce these complaints,” she said.

Sex work and begging are the only means of livelihood for us, rued the Hijras. Taking note of this plea, Karandlaje said, “I cannot assure you of government jobs as there is an age limit. However, we could think on the lines of facilitating self-employment and even providing training under a BBMP scheme,” she said.

The government had made available a monthly pension of Rs400 to Devadasis above the age of 40. A similar proposal would be made for the Hijras. Sex change operations for the young could also be looked into, and the medical fraternity would be consulted for the same. “All this would take time. The BJP government would be here for three more years to deliver on these promises,” she said, at the event that was attended by four corporators.