Amid growing calls and even court observations to give the transgenders their due space in the society, the third gender persons continue to face discrimination due to lack of awareness and various other factors.
Though the Election Commission took socially sensitive initiative to provide a third gender option ‘others’ in 2009 itself to allow transsexuals to take part in the democratic exercise, the enrolment of the community has been abysmal.
According to 2014 summary revision electoral data, only 2,996 transgenders had registered themselves as voters in 39 Parliamentary constituencies in Tami Nadu though their actual population is much more than that.
According to an official of Indian Community Welfare Organization (ICWO), working for the health and welfare of transgenders, the third sex persons in the state should be ‘at least ten times’ more than 2,996.
The low enrollment was mainly due to poor awareness.
“The message that a voter ID card could help them access government welfare schemes like pension did not percolate among them. Besides a section of transgenders are always on the move," says ICWO Secretary A J Hariharan.
Source: Latest News