Transgenders on Friday laid siege to the District Social Welfare Office here seeking identity cards.
District Transgenders Welfare Association president G. Sumathi said they would not be able to pursue higher studies without the cards. According to a survey, around 2,500 transgenders lived in the district. As per a Supreme Court ruling, transgenders must be treated as the third gender but the government was ignoring their demands.
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Officials of the Social Welfare Department were demanding medical test certificate from a government hospital to determine their gender. But doctors directed transgenders to obtain a letter from the social welfare office to carry out such examination. Over the last four years, transgenders were running from pillar to post to obtain the identity cards, Sumathi said adding that a demonstration would be held at the collectorate on Monday against the “lethargic” attitude of the officials, Sumathi said.