Eunuchs take out rally, demands equal status

FROM A CORRESPONDENT

TINSUKIA, April 17: Facing taunts and ridicule wherever they go, the eunuchs, who took out a rally at Tinsukia town recently, said they should get equal status with the other genders in society.

The rally, which started from Tha Chariali here, turned its way through the old railway station via the GNB Road and Tinkonia AT Road with the participants holding placards demanding equal rights as citizens of India and the right to live as normal human beings.

A member of eunuchs said that the rally would contribute to generate awareness among the people about the feelings of the third gender in the society.

“There are nearly 60 lakh eunuchs in the country, but nothing has been done for them by the State or the Central Governments. Whenever they approach Government offices to avail benefits under schemes like the Mahatma Gandhi tiol Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme or the Indira Awaas Yoja or benefits for people below the poverty line, they face ridicule and taunts, and their pleas are never entertained by officials.”

Another member said that the eunuchs face problems whenever they apply for any identity-related documents — be it the voter’s card, the passport or a bank account — they always find it difficult to obtain these documents.

She said several letters to the State and Central Governments had failed to bring any relief to the eunuchs.

She said eunuchs can offer a lot of assistance to the police in controlling crime—a resource that has remained untapped so far.