“This is for good. Transgender should be treated equally in the society. They should get proper treatment and justice for the wrongs committed against them. Transgender wants status equal to male and female”
K Koushal
“Today I have literally attained liberation, as I had faced lot of harassment in and outside family throughout my life,” said cheerful Allice, a member of transgender community, soon after government constituted Transgender Welfare Board in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir.
In an exclusive talk with The Typewriter, Allice said that society in general and family in particular in India do not accept transgender.
“People like me are not accepted in this society, wherein only male and female are recognized,” said Allice, adding that family as well as society were skeptical to their identities.
Allice further said that transgender have been time and again asked by the society and family to prove their identity, without respecting their feelings.
“My family was never supportive and the same applies for others, because we are being looked at with disdain,” said Allice, adding that they are not accepted as a child in the society.
Allice asserted that family disowns them, society is not sympathetic towards them and police is also cynical towards them, making it difficult for them to survive.
“Despite all these odds, I am happy with my identity and I am proud to be a transgender,” Allice said and added that Transgender Welfare Board shall be revolutionary for the recognition of transgender in the society.
Meanwhile, terming the development as a ground-breaking step, Arnavi ambassador of LGBTQ Community said that it will certainly create awareness about transgender in general public.
“We expect this board shall entail some basic requirements like free medical checkup, separate washrooms in colleges and workplaces and pension for transgender,” said Arnavi, adding that this board also has the responsibility to clear myth against transgender.
Pertinent to mention that Arnavi was just nine years of age when she realised that she is a transgender. All of her family members, except her mother, boycotted her or ignored her. She is now 26 and has come a long way. After getting a fine arts degree at Jammu University without any support from her family or the government, she has taken on the role of an ambassador, raising awareness about the rights of the LGBTQ community in Jammu.
Rabeena Mahant, who happens to be the first transgender to join mainstream politics in Jammu, said that this decision would have far reaching implications for the community.
“This is for good. Transgender should be treated equally in the society. They should get proper treatment and justice for the wrongs committed against them. Transgender wants status equal to male and female,” said Mahant, adding they do not want to be liability on anyone.
When contacted member secretary of the newly constituted Transgender Welfare Board, he said that he has just received the orders in this regard and shall pursue it as per the act and requirement.
Earlier, Principal Secretary to the Government, Manoj Kumar Dwivedi vide Government Order No. 822-JK (GAD) of 2022, dated 12-07-2022, in terms of clause 10 (1) of the Transgender Persons (protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, sanction is hereby accorded to constitution of Transgender Welfare Board, comprising of Chief Secretary as chairperson.
