A celebratory event Sapta Ranga Milan organized by SAKHA, working for the sexual minority for their rights and dignity in Odisha.

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

On 11 October 2010 a celebratory event ‘Sapta Ranga Milan’ (observed its

First Annual Day) organized by SAKHA, working for the sexual minority for their

rights and dignity in Odisha.

This event was held at Kasturba Narimahal, Bhubaneswar by the sexual minorities

from various districts of Odisha. This programme was supported by SAKHYAM

project, Lepra India, funded by European Union, and Interact Worldwide-UK.

Sampark Coalition has also part of this event. The programme was done with the

following objectives;

To bring sexual minority group members from across Odisha together.

To joyfully celebrate diversity within the wider community

To promote Inclusion of all members of the society

To inform mainstream Odisha about sexual minorities.

To increase self acceptance and positive identity of sexual minority community

member

Stigma and discrimination against members of sexual minority communities

persists. Society is yet to fully embrace the rightful existence and positive

living / culture of these minorities.  This is despite the reading down of

Article 377 in July last year.

Hopefully the community of Odisha is going to except us as human beings and

celebrate our differences by giving us the dignity and respect that we deserve

as any other ordinary human being,†said Satya Sundar Mishra (Subham), a

sexual minorities rights activist and President of Sakha.

By presenting a positive face within an atmosphere of celebration, we know that

people who might otherwise be inclined to fear sexual minority group members

(through igorance) can become more accepting of those members as they realise

there is nothing to fear - that these people are ordinary human beings who can

laugh and celebrate and support each otherâ€.This was unanimously felt by

participants in the celebratory event.

Project Director OSACS, Dr. Alekh Padhiary have full support on Sakha and its

event but due to some unavoidable reason OSACS P.D could not able to attend the

program. Prashant Kumar Mishra, Project Coordinator, Lepra India and Sarita

Barpanda, Country Programme Advisor-India (IWw), Mitali Moanty from SAATHII

(Odisha) and Madhu Hijra from SAATHII, (Culcutta) participated in the event and

supported the movement for dignity and rights of all the key vulnerable

population.

The noted names Mitali Mohanty, Madhu Hijda, Sarita Barpanda, Prasant Kr Mishra

were chief guest and they were in the jury board of the dance and ramp show

competition.

Buond of this SAKHA had organised a cultural programmes with Dance and Ramp show

to presented by SAKHA group of members. Here they have proved themselve that

they are not less than a general human being.

SAKHA also awarded some special awards to Best peer Educator to Basant Ku. Das

(Basanti), Best community mobiliser to Menaka Kinner, best support group

former  award to Dambrudhar Sunani and Best supported mother award to Mallika

Parida mother of Mayadhar Parida(Meera) for their precious contribution to

SAKHA.

In a way Sakha is also taking forward the advocacy agenda (highlighting issues

of sexual minorities in several media houses) of the state level network,

Sampark, through their Annual Day observation events. Wide range of media

coverage was there for highlighting the psycho-social and economic issues and

the hidden qualities of TG and Hijra.

 

with regards,

Satya sundar Mishra(subham)

President,SAKHA.

e-mail: <subham.sakha@...>