Commission for inclusion of transsexuals in backward classes list

Commission for inclusion of transsexuals in backward classes list

Bangalore Feb 19: Chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Backward Classes Mr. C S Dwaraknath announced that the commission plans to include hijras or transsexuals in the list of backward classes in Karnataka during a press conference held on Thursday.  

The chairman invited transsexuals from all over Karnataka to participate in a public meeting, which will be held in Bangalore on March 3, to understand their grievances. Giving more details about the public hearing, he said that its purpose would be to discuss how to go about the process of including transsexuals into the backwards classes list. He also said that sexuality minority rights organizations such as Samata Sainik Dal and Sangama will be representing the commission in this regard.  

Welcoming the commission’s decision, Arvind Narrain, the human rights advocate, said that eunuchs have always been clubbed as a “criminal tribe” by the British and defined as “systematically addicted to the commission of offences,” adding that the stigma attached to the community has still not been erased.  

Mr. Dwarkanath said that commission’s recommendation will be based on Articles 15 (4) and 16 (4) of the Indian constitution. Article 15 (4) argues for “provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens.” Article 16 (4) argues for reservation of government posts and promotions for transsexuals. 

He said that the transsexuals deserve to receive these benefits because they have been ridiculed, excluded, and stigmatised by society although they are just as human as anybody else, adding that transsexuals have an identity crisis because the constitution does not recognize the existence of a third gender.