Marginalised communities cry for dignity, respect

[Guest guest]

Marginalised communities cry for dignity, respect

Himanshi Dhawan, TNN, Nov 19, 2010

NEW DELHI: India may well be on its way to becoming a superpower, but for

millions of marginalised communities -- transgenders, female sex workers, men

having sex with men (MSM), intravenous drug users (IDUs) -- the struggle to live

a life with dignity and respect continues.

These communities face an uphill battle for a government recognised identity

card cutting access to nearly all welfare schemes. Representatives from 20 NGOs

and community based organisations (CBOs) met Planning Commission members and

officials on Thursday demanding inclusion in the government's policy planning

and budget.

CFAR's Akhila Sivadas, one of the NGO partners, said, " These communities do not

want segregation, or quotas but a consideration in the mainstream. Most of their

demands relate to health, education and welfare schemes, many of which are being

run by the government but in a piecemeal manner. There is a need for greater

awareness and interaction with the community to ensure institutional support for

these communities. "

The lack of information and segregation from mainstream populations have led to

poor access to social programmes. Despite certain welfare schemes introduced by

the government, coverage is still sparse and ineffective. According to data

available with NGOs, in four states -- Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and

Andhra Pradesh -- only 725 people could access widow pension and 4,567 have been

able to open bank accounts. A paltry 34,678 have ration cards and 30,839 have

been able to get voter cards.

Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative (TAI) project director R Lakshmibai pointed out that

there are nearly 50,000 sex workers only in TN. The state government has

established a welfare board, but a comprehensive policy for inclusion is needed.

" The government needs to define a nomenclature for transgenders and sex workers

and plan health and welfare schemes taking in to account our specific needs, "

she said.

While sex workers complained that their children were unable to attend

mainstream schools or live in hostels, transgender community demanded access to

micro-finance, low cost housing scheme and self-help groups.

Andhra Pradesh's Srinivas Reddy, who is working with the MSM community, claimed

that he holds a post-graduate degree in sociology. " Many MSMs are engineers,

doctors, double post-graduates, but they can't get jobs because of the stigma

attached to their sexual orientation, " he said.

IDUs have demanded that they want a comprehensive rehabilitation scheme, and

opportunities to continue education and employment. The communities have also

demanded that officials, professionals and students be sensitised about

alternative sexuality for long-term behavioural change.

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