Citizens have voiced complaints about harassment and verbal abuse by individuals begging at Bengaluru’s traffic signals, particularly in the Central Business District (CBD). Members of the transgender community claim these acts are often committed by “duplicate transgender persons” posing as transgender women, tarnishing their reputation.
Suji, a transgender woman, stressed that genuine members of the community maintain dignity and modesty. “We don’t catcall or curse; instead, we offer blessings. It’s frustrating to see these imposters harming our image,” she said.
Activists like Akkai Padmashali and Uma P highlight the broader struggles of transgender individuals, including economic instability and social exclusion, despite legal protections under the Transgender Act (2019). They urge authorities and citizens to address concerns without stigmatizing the entire community.
Police Commissioner B Dayananda stated there have been no recent complaints about aggressive transgender individuals and clarified that managing begging is the responsibility of the BBMP. Activists encourage citizens to report harassment to the police to address these incidents appropriately.