A number of music and dance performances marked the National Transgender Day celebration organised by Social Welfare Development Trust, and several transgenders from Madurai and the surrounding districts participated in it.
The National Transgender Day was celebrated across the country on April 15 to mark a year after the Supreme Court verdict which recognised transgenders as a third gender, along with males and females.
“The celebrations were organised to bring the community together and interact about our place in society and our needs. We are also working to raise funds and support elderly transgenders in the district who are no longer able to work,” said P. Meena, secretary of Social Welfare Trust.
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Many transgenders from the district said they had been finding it tough to get jobs even after being qualified.
T. Jayachitra said despite having a bachelor’s degree, she was unable to find work. “If the government steps in and hires us as conservancy workers for the city corporation, we will be happy as we are in dire need of respectable jobs to earn a livelihood,” she said.
Meharnisha, who counsels transgenders on health issues, said that many transgenders, post their surgery, were unable to indulge in any manual labour and urged the government to conduct special training programmes for the community in basket weaving, flower arrangements and food packaging.
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“It is still very tough for us to find houses on rent as people do not want us as tenants. A few of us were even turned away at some villages because people believe in myths and say that it will not rain in their area if we stay there,” she rued.
Transgender activist and writer Priya Babu said that a national transgender welfare board to represent their issues was the need of the hour.
“At the city level, we are working towards the setting up of a transgender resource and empowerment centre,” she added.