For long members of the third gender (transgenders) could not get ration cards. They had to run from one office to another and after much trouble would get one or two cards. This had been the condition for long.
One of the main obstacles was that the members of their community could not furnish proof, not even letter from house owners because of the fear that if such a letter was given, the transgenders would not vacate the house, said D. Shilpa, a transgender.
There was not other document they could furnish.
But things changed sometime in December 2015 in Coimbatore. The district administration led by Collector Archana Patnaik and District Revenue Officer T. Christuraj called them for a camp in October 2015 to give voter identity card and ration card, the transgender said.
Based on letter from the Coimbatore Mavatta Thirunangaigal Nala Sangam (Coimbatore district transgenders’ welfare association), the district administration enrolled them in the voters’ list and provided the electoral photo identity card to around 100 transgenders.
Based on the voter identity card and identity card from the social welfare board for transgenders, around 150 members of the community had obtained public distribution system (ration) cards, she added.
The voter identity card would help them vote but they had started enjoying other benefits as well. Without any help from friends, the transgenders had booked e-ticket for their train travel and furnished the card as proof, she pointed out.
The ratio had helped them save up to Rs. 2,000 a month on pulses. Plus they were getting rice for free and kerosene as well, said M.Nethra, another transgender.
They had also opened bank accounts using the voter identity card as proof, she added.
District Revenue Officer Mr. Christuraj said that the members of the community were so overjoyed that they were now leading the voter awareness campaign in the district.
One of the main obstacles was that the members of their community could not furnish proof, not even letter from house owners because of the fear that if such a letter was given, the transgenders would not vacate the house, said D. Shilpa, a transgender.
There was not other document they could furnish.
But things changed sometime in December 2015 in Coimbatore. The district administration led by Collector Archana Patnaik and District Revenue Officer T. Christuraj called them for a camp in October 2015 to give voter identity card and ration card, the transgender said.
Based on letter from the Coimbatore Mavatta Thirunangaigal Nala Sangam (Coimbatore district transgenders’ welfare association), the district administration enrolled them in the voters’ list and provided the electoral photo identity card to around 100 transgenders.
Based on the voter identity card and identity card from the social welfare board for transgenders, around 150 members of the community had obtained public distribution system (ration) cards, she added.
The voter identity card would help them vote but they had started enjoying other benefits as well. Without any help from friends, the transgenders had booked e-ticket for their train travel and furnished the card as proof, she pointed out.
The ratio had helped them save up to Rs. 2,000 a month on pulses. Plus they were getting rice for free and kerosene as well, said M.Nethra, another transgender.
They had also opened bank accounts using the voter identity card as proof, she added.
District Revenue Officer Mr. Christuraj said that the members of the community were so overjoyed that they were now leading the voter awareness campaign in the district.