Transgenders face discrimition in Shillong

FROM A REPORTER

SHILLONG, Aug 7: Hundreds of transgenders in and around the city are constantly facing multiple problems to the point of being neglected by society despite the fact that the Central Government had introduced 'Article 377' which has accepted all transgenders as citizens of the country.

"This is a very difficult issue to debate since even the society has margilised us into a group. Not just male behaving in a female manner but the same is for injecting Drug Users,  and the society are yet to accept us," Samanda Phanwar, Programme Mager of Lamjingshai Targeted Intervention (LTI) said while speaking to this scribe at her office located at Nongthymmai.

The main aim of the LTI is to identify Trans-Gender and to educate them on the dangers of inter marriage between two males especially on the contraction of HIV/AIDS.

"We give them (Trans-Gender) proper education, regular medical check-up and we take them to integrated counselling & testing centres. We also educate them on various Sexually Transmitted Infection etc..," she said.

She further said that the society till date is still unwell to accept Trans-Gender.

When asked on the actions of Transgender she said informed that they are very soft hearted people and has no threat towards others, however the society still consider them as nuisance.

She further said that most of the transgender comes out during night hours is because if they come out during the day time the society will question them on the way they dress.

"Since these girls come out during the night we use to go to various police outpost to request them not to hit the girls while the police are on patrolling duty," Programme Mager of LTI said. The LTI as part of its initiative to help the transgender in the state have also associated themselves with the Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS).