Udupi: The transgender community recently got its voting rights, but a lot needs to be done to bring this sexuality minority group into the mainstream. The Asare Sumudaya Samsthe and Sangama organisation, which have been working for the cause of the transgenders, has demanded better opportunities for the transgenders.
Addressing the media on Monday, November 12, at the Udupi Press Club, the head of Asare Samudaya, Sanjeev Vandse said that according to their survey, there are 380 sexual minorities living in Udupi district. However, he said that a proper survey should be conducted by the government to find out the exact number so that the government and the district administration can draw up schemes to help them.
Vandse claimed that many government officials were unaware of the Karnataka State Policy for Transgenders, which aims at integrating the transgender community into mainstream society and provide a secure future for them. He further said that they were unaware of the Mythri scheme that provides a monthly pension to eligible transgenders.
He explained that the transgender community finds it difficult to obtain ration cards and voter ID cards and hence urged the authorities to provide better employment opportunities for the transgender community in the Udupi Zilla Panchayat and Udupi City Municipal Council.
The district administration should also provide them with housing and title deeds so that they can build their own houses in the district, he said.
Deepika, Lavanya and Sudershan were also present at the press meet.
