Impact of lockdown & social stigma: Transgenders bearing the brunt

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The around 11,734 transgender people staying in Assam have been bearing the brunt of the COVID-19 lockdown as most of them have no stable sources of income. The social stigma towards them continues to aggravate their situation, especially while going for any vocation.

Of the around 11,734 transgender people (according to the 2011 Census) in the State, while Kamrup (M) district alone has 2,000, Kamrup has 1,000.

This reporter talked to a number of transgender people staying in rented houses at Maligaon in the city. One of them, Nitumoni Das, said, "Like others in society, this lockdown has also taught us many things that were unknown to us. Ours is a hand-to-mouth life. We live with whatever we earn daily. However, during the lockdown, our sources of income have gone dry. Living away from my family in Nalbari district for about 15 years, I've none to seek help from."

Transgenders generally have three sources of income – by attending auspicious ceremonies in families and blessings family members, begging and through the art of songs and dance at various places.

Nisha Das, another transgender, said, "The major problem for us is that we haven't paid house rents during the lockdown. With our meagre income it's very difficult for us to have bank balance. Whatever we had has been exhausted. If the house owners ask us to vacate the houses, we'll be roofless."

Sonia Khanam, another transgender, said, "We got relief materials twice from the administration and thrice from a Christian NGO. That's not enough for us to keep the oven burning.

"Around 80 per cent of transgender people are illiterate. Thus the door for jobs is closed for us. We're not well informed either. We don't know as to where and how to apply for jobs. Even if we want to do some small businesses, we get no takers. We're still victims of the social stigma towards us. The society is yet to accept us."

Rinki Bora said, "If the lockdown continues this way, we'll certainly meet our doom. We just pray to God that the situation normalizes soon. What we want is a change of outlook towards us in the society. We want others to treat us humanely."

Swati Bidhan Baruah, the founder of All Assam Transgender Association, said, "I do whatever I can for the transgenders. I have a list of 94 of them in Guwahati. In the phase-1, altogether 25 of them got Rs 1,500 each as relief from the government. The rest didn't get as they left for their native places. I'm corresponding with the government to ensure help for the transgenders during the lockdown so as to give them succour."

Enumeration of transgenders started from the 2021 Census. 

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