Research Of The Socio-Economic Condition Of The Transgender In The Tumkur City, India

Introduction

In the Indian culture, the most prevalent transgender are hijras. Hijras are physiologically male but they adopt feminine gender identity and roles. Hijras or hermaphrodites are people with ambiguous genitalia. Also called intersexed , hermaphrodites is primarily a medical condition which results from multifarious biological factors. The term ‘intersexes’ is reserved to refer to a somatic condition in which the hermaphroditic person is supposed to posses both masculine and feminine traits. In spite of national and international protections, transgender have been a neglected community in the universe. Sparing few countries, there is no recognition for their rights and are sometimes forced to lead animal life like, humiliation, torture and cruelty.

Transgender people tolerate the brunt of social and economic marginalization due to discrimination based on their gender identity or expression. Sexual minorities were most neglected and vulnerable communities in our Indian society.

It was highlighted in the 2011 census; India’s total population of transgender is around 4. 88 Lakh as per 2011 census. In Karnataka 20. 266 transgender were identified. Transgender activists in the country estimate this number to be six to seven times higher but were excited, especially, with the results in the 0-6 year old population. Census results say that 55,000 came from parents identifying their children as transgender, legally recognized by the Supreme Court in India as the third gender, traditionally called 'hijra. ' During the voter registration process, only 28,341 people registered as belong to the third gender, but the census clearly indicates a huge inflation in numbers. Interestingly unlike many other least advantaged groups Hijras are not found to have diversified their livelihood strategies. The unwillingness of the larger mainstream society to accept them as normal human also debarred the Hijras from seeking new sources of income. Therefore their social and economic condition is not at all better. Their standard of living and quality of life is low.

Rational of the Study:

The Transgender community is one among the most marginalized and vulnerable communities in India. The community needs to be included in the mainstream development program of the country and be protected from all forms of abuse and exploitation. The transgender community is highly deprived of several rights including their right of participating in economic activities including employment. In Tumkur there are four projects running by non-governmental organization to uphold their rights and safeguard them from various exploitation. This paper is a tiny effort done by the researcher to understand the socio-economic condition of the transgender in the Tumkur city. So far no attempt has been made to explore their living conditions. This Paper may help professionals to understand the problems of the hijaras and plan different intervention methods. It may motivate the helping professionals to adopt humanitarian approach while dealing with hijaras people in practice and at the policy level also.

Objectives of the Study

• To understand the socio-demographic profile of the respondents.
• To study the interrelation of transgender with their families.
• To understand the treatment and difficulties experienced by the transgender in the society
• To understand the social stigma and discrimination faced by the transgender in the society

Methodology:

The present study was carried out in Tumkur city. Descriptive research design was adopted by using purposive and snowball sampling with the sampling size of 120. For assessing the socio-economic conditions of transgender structured interview schedule was employed to collect primary data from the sample respondents. The schedule included personal aspects, socio–economic, educational and employment status and difficulties faced by society, based on the objectives. The schedule was administered through personal interviews. The data was analyzed by using simple statistical percentage analyses.

The majority 85% of respondents felt depressed by societal treatment after becoming transgender. Remaining 15% of the respondents were not depressed after becoming transgender. Most of the respondents say that they are depressed by societal treatment after becoming transgender. The majority [72. 5%] of respondent’s family’s member have negative attitude toward the transgender. And remaining 27. 5% of respondents family member have positive attitude toward the transgender especially on respondents because respondents are income source for their family. Majority 42. 5% of respondents get confidence from their own community. And 20% of the respondents get confidence to face the life challenges from themselves. Remaining 5% of the respondents get confidence through mass media. 37. 5% of the respondents feel happy while society involves them in public functions, 10% of the respondents told that, they face embarrassing situations, 52. 5% of the respondents felt that society treats them well in public functions. Most respondents shared that, society treats them very badly when they attend public function. The Majority of the respondents (47. 5%) are threatened by the police and 42. 5% of the respondent’s receive threats from the goondas. Remaining 10% of the respondents get threats from the others. The table clearly shows that transgender are exploited by both the police and the goondas. The police thought that most of the transgender are thieves and haptha collector.

Majority 60% of the respondents do not showed interest in self-employment because they are beautiful and glamorous and around or below 30 years of age. They have good returns from sex work. The remaining 40% of respondents who have crossed 30 years have health problems. They show interest in self-employments like making candles, becoming beauticians, cooks and tailors.

Suggestions

• Comprehensive civil rights legislation should be offered to hijaras and Kothie for the protection and rights now guaranteed to others on the basis of sex, caste, creed and color. The constitution should be amended to include sexual orientation/gender identity as a ground of non-discrimination.
• There should be a special legal protection against this form of discrimination inflicted by both state and civil society akin to the offence of practicing untouchability.
• Same-sex marriages should be recognized as legal and valid. All legal benefits, including property rights that accrue to heterosexual married people, should be made available to same-sex unions.
• Civil rights under law such as the right to get a passport, ration card, make a will, inherit property and property and adopt children must be available to all regardless of change in gender/sex identities.
• Reservation in educational institutions such as schools and colleges as well as in government employment should be mandatory.

Social Work practice with Transgender:

• Social worker should endorse favorable conditions that persuade respect for cultural and social miscellany. Social work should promote policies and practices that to safeguard the rights and confirm equity and social justice for all people.
• Social work should be partnered with the transgender community to modify laws, medical protocols, research and policies in such a ways that preserve and protect the quality of life for transgender and transsexual citizens. In the domain of gender diversity, prejudice and oppression should be replaced with compassion, support, empathy and celebration of divergence.
• Social work contributes to promote public policy development and to strengthen societal and familial attitudes and behaviors that affirms the dignity and rights of
• all individuals regardless of gender identity or gender expression.
• create awareness amongst the other people about the rights of transgenders to live with dignity as human beings and citizens.

Conclusions:

Till date government has not done anything to heave the ‘Transgender community’ out of the abject condition into which they are trapped. Transgender are mostly illiterate, jobless and homeless. They have no stable flow of income. They can hardly manage food for survival or see a good doctor for checkup. All these constraints have turned them into be excluded from the society. Social work intervenes through public awareness and advocacy. Social work intervenes to promote public policy development and to strengthen societal and familial attitudes and behaviors that affirms the dignity and rights of all individuals regardless of gender identity or gender expression.