Plea for redrafting transgender bill

Dharna Chowk: The city’s transgender communitycame onto a single platform to protest against the Trafficking of Persons Bill, 2018, and Transgender Persons Bill, 2018. Theycontended that the bill criminalisesand forces them to alter their lifestyles.

“The bill violates the rights of transgenders, instead of protecting them. It is taking away our freedom from us in expressing our gender. In our culture we stay in group and form relations like teacher, mother and sister, but according to the new bill, transgender should either stay with their parents or in the custodian homes, which are worse than jails. The bill is criminalizing our traditional livelihood. From decades we go sing and dance in the functions and take money from people. It is our culture. But now,the bill says that it is punishable. Hormonal therapy is our right.How can the government oppose that? We want the bill to be redrafted,” said Vyjayanthi, a member of Telangana transgender committee.

“Stop seeing transgender as a criminal. Our gender is our identity, but the new bill says that we don’t have the right to our self identification. As per the bill, screening committeeswouldbe established in every district with collector, government officials and doctors. We have to write an application to the committee saying that we are transgenders, and then we will be tested and will be given identity. We will be asked to stand nude for the screening test. Under article 19 and 21 of the constitution, any procedure for identification of transgender persons that goes beyond self-identification and likely to involve an element of medical, biological or mental assessment is a violation of our rights. Central government doesn’t have any right to go against the constitution,” said Laila.

“They didn’t mention anything about our education and job opportunities, reservations in the bill. This bill is opposed by all transgenders across the country. We request the Members of Parliament (MPs) to oppose the bill. Consider us as humans and think with humanity. This bill is against our primary rights. As citizens of India, we have fundamental rights like other genders do,” she added.
“We don’t want these bills. It is the responsibility of the government to protect every citizen of the country, but here our central government is taking away our freedom from us. Whom did they consult before providing the bill in the Lok Sabha? When Nalsajudgment is already there, where isthe need for a new bill? BJP government doesn’t want transgendersto enjoy their freedom and be happy? Or do they have any personal grudge on our community? This bill should be rewritten or Nalsajudgment should be implemented, said Chandramukhi.

“We came together to protest against trafficking bill and transgender persons bill. We were not consulted before passing the bill. Only 4 to 5 NGOs were consulted and the bill was passed in the Lok Sabha. Transgender and sex workers are protesting all over the country, but government is not responding. Government should work for the people but not for its personal benefits. We are protesting for the fourth time in last 15 days, but not even one MLA or MP responded. We demand government to answer our questions, said Vijaya, a member of National Domestic Workers Union.