Leading a new life of dignity

BANGALORE: Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) has taken a positive step towards empowering sexual minorities by appointing a transgender as a  pourakarmika in Bangalore East Zone. This follows the appointment of a transgender in the Karnataka High Court last year.Lakshmi, a transgender is a resident of Cox Town. For the last 15 years, she has been cleaning the markets in the area. “The society here has accepted me as a part of their everyday life, a long time back. The vendors used to pay me and on an average I used to get Rs 400 per month,” she says, rather proudly.Unlike many transgenders who run away or are asked to leave their natal homes, she lives with her parents. She is aware that discrimination by the society has forced several other trangenders to either beg or take to sex work for a living. So, she is grateful to BBMP for effecting a tremendous difference to her life. being absorbed me as a pourakarmika, I now earn Rs 2,500 per month and

this will increase marginally after the implementation of the new pay

scale, she says.

She feels that others like her should come out in the open and live a

life of dignity. “BBMP has sent out a strong message to the transgender

community even if my appointment is only on contract,” she says.This positive step was taken by BBMP health inspector Srinivas. He knew

that Lakshmi was  already cleaning the area and consulted the  local

traders for their opinion before offering her a contract. “The media

tends to  overreact and I had to be careful about any negative opinions.

All traders in the area supported the move,” he said.According to the officials, people turn their back on the transgender

community and do not allow them to live in dignity or join the

mainstream as they are considered bad omens. “It is wrong. Change begins

from within. Some commented negatively on hiring her. But, we want the

work to be done and she was willing to do it,” he said. While this news

brings cheer, but the truth is that they are still fighting for their

basic rights in the state of Karnataka.