"Hijras have the worst quality of life that we can imagine," said Vikram Sahai, member of the Gender Studies Group at Delhi University. They lack access to crucial public services and are discriminated against and harassed on a daily basis, he explained. Left without options, many hijras are forced to beg or do sex work, which deepens the stigma attached to them.
All the activists TOI interviewed stressed that changing people's mindset is most important and the judgment can make it possible. Abhina Aher, a hijra activist who works for India HIV/AIDS Alliance, said prejudice, discrimination and violence make life hard for transgenders. "A strong statement has been made about it."
Aware of this, workers of Society for Peoples' Awareness, Care & Empowerment (SPACE) are planning to conduct awareness meetings-first with transgenders and then with the general public. "In the same way there were myths about AIDS back in the 1980s, there are myths and lack of awareness about hijras," said Shaikh. Activists said a lot of work needs to be done within the community to spread awareness about their right to get education and work.
Akkai Padmashali, transsexual activist from Karnataka, said changing their legal status will eventually change hijras' social, medical and emotional position in society. "It gives us the right to choose our gender identity and will help our families accept us," she said, adding, "Finally, the state has taken the responsibility to take care of one of the most socially backward groups."
The third gender will be entitled to special welfare programmes and equal access to services. Amitava Sarkar, who identifies herself as a transgender, stressed that educating healthcare and educational service providers is very important. "We have to sensitize them and make it clear that they should help the third gender as much as they help the others", Sarkar said. Small needs, such as special public toilets for the third gender, also need to be fulfilled. Using women's or men's conveniences often becomes a pretext for grave violence against hijras, social workers told TOI.
So far, it has been almost impossible for hijras to get jobs in banks and public offices. But transgenders will now be treated as socially and economically backward classes, which means they will also be employed in the civil service. "We can use this law to influence the corporate sector," said Shaikh. "Recognition as other backward classes (OBC) could change the whole scenario, even politically. This will help the community to access and exercise its due rights," said Anjan Joshi, executive director of SPACE.
However, nothing will change overnight, he stressed. "It will take quite a while to sensitize the general community." And there are many doubts. Sahai called the Supreme Court judgment a minor symbolic victory. Akkai Padmashali wondered how many political leaders will speak in favour of the community. And the others announced they will pressure the government, ministers, and educational and healthcare institutions to include the third gender.
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