The Hindu : Eunuchs get training in operation of EVMs

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Mar 28, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Eunuchs get training in operation of EVMs

By Our Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM, MARCH 27. The Villupuram Collector, K. Gopal, emphasised the need for aravanis (eunuchs) to enrol themselves in the electoral rolls.

At a meeting held at the Collectorate yesterday, Mr. Gopal said the aravanis could obtain Form-6 from either the Revenue Divisional Officer or the Tahsildar concerned to become eligible for exercising their franchise. As per the Madras High Court guidance, they were given the choice of mentioning their sex according to their preference.

Mr. Gopal said in the case of those who had not yet obtained the electors photo identity cards, the Election Commission guidelines would be followed.

The Collector called upon the aravanis' representatives to tell others about the need for including their names in the voters' list. Mr. Gopal arranged a demonstration of the electronic voting machines (EVMs) for them.

Villupuram hogs the limelight every year as on the occasion of Chitra Pournami (in April), the aravanis from all over the country descend on the town and from here they would proceed to Koovagam near Sevalai in Ulundurpet taluk where their temple is located. Traditional pujas and even "beauty contest" would mark the occasion.

On the full-moon night, they would tie the mangalsutra, handed over by the priest, thus symbolically marrying the deity Aravanan. Later, a car procession would be taken out and at the end the deity would be beheaded. Following the event, the aravanis would break their bangles and remove the strings of flower, signifying that they have become widows, and after grieving over their loss for a while they would disperse.

The aravanis are thinly spread — at Villupuram, Ginjee, Thirukkoilur, Ulundurpet and Kallakurichi. The official figures put the eligible voters at 85, but unofficial count says it could be more than 500. The official sources say that after the aravanis mention their sex preference, they would encounter the problem of allotting them the queue at the polling stations.

Sometime ago, there was also a demand that they be allotted separate polling stations. The officials hope that as the aravanis are generally seen moving in groups, assigning them a particular queue would not pose problems.

The aravanis say that at last they have got recognition from the court, but the social recognition is hard to come by, because there exist certain reservations in accepting their status.

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