'Lack of awareness about transgenders in India'

There is a lack of awareness about the number of transgenders, hijras or other gender non-conforming groups among Indian states, observed participants at a conference held here on transgender rights.

The Centre for Health, Law, Ethics and Technology, Jindal Global Law School of O.P. Jindal Global University, organised a two-day roundtable discussion Nov 9-10 on "Human Rights of the Transgender People, Hijras and Other Gender Non-Normative Gender Groups in India", according to a press release issued by the university Wednesday.

The roundtable was attended by participants from 17 states and Nepal and Pakistan who deliberated on the legal and social barriers faced by the transgenders, Hijra and non-normative gender groups in India. This discussion assumes significance in the light of the committee on transgender issues set up by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and the Supreme Court case on transgender rights.

The committee was set up Oct 23 to conduct "an in-depth study of the problems being faced by transgender community and suggest suitable measures that can be taken up the government to ameliorate their problems". It will submit its recommendations to the ministry by Jan 22, 2014.

The participants were unanimous in their view that transgender persons should not be made to submit any medical or legal proof to claim their identity as transgenders; the choice of identity should be with them.

Dipika Jain, the university's executive director for the Centre for Health, Law, Ethics and Technology, said: "There are very few laws and policies for transgender and other non-normative gender groups. Very few states were aware of the number of transgenders, Hijras or other gender non-conforming groups, with some of them noting that they did not have any welfare schemes, laws or policies for transgender, hijras or other gender non-conforming groups."

Participants from Nepal said the Supreme Court of Nepal created a new identity category called "Others". As a result, Nepal now has three categories, male, female and others. Participants from Pakistan said the country's Supreme Court has recognised the "Khwaja Sara" gender category.

In 2009 and 2011, the Supreme Court of Pakistan issued orders allowing male, female and Khwaja Sara identities on official identification.