Tamil Nadu is a state where transgender rights have been a priority. Almost all government forms seeking personal information have the third gender as a separate category. The government aid for them includes free Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS) in the Government Hospital; free housing program; various citizenship documents; admission in government colleges with full scholarship for higher studies; alternative sources of livelihood through formation of self-help groups (for savings) and initiating income-generation programs (IGP). Tamil Nadu was also the first state to form a Transgender Welfare Board with representatives from the transgender community. Government also ordered universities to recognize them as a separate gender.
In November last year the government took a leap when it appointed a transgender Prithika Yashini as a police sub inspector. She became India’s first transgendered police officer. However her appointment was not without a fight, as her appointment was challenged and her final appointment was subsequent to a court verdict.
Earlier Rose Venkatesan of this community hosted a TV show on a major entertainment channel Vijay TV, part of the Star group. Now a local TV channel Lotus TV based in Coimbatore has appointed another transgender Padmini Prakash to anchor a daily news show. The channel revealed that Padmini’s name was recommended by Rose. Padmini is today happy with her new status. Her employers are happy too.
This face of Tamil Nadu is in stark contrast with Thailand, the land of Ladyboys. Thailand has a sizeable third gender population, attracting transgender population from all over the world for its famous beauty pageants; has just taken steps to recognize them as a third gender. They were hitherto considered male, despite the valuable tourism industry riding high for sex-tourism.
With over 30,000 transgenders in Tamil Nadu, the state is witnessing social changes in the community. With less discrimination and more opportunities, the transgenders are finally moving away from the sex trade. However their rights and welfare ultimately depends on not what they are or what they do, but what we understand of them.
