Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

`Aravanis' in focus

Staff Reporter

NGOs and Aravani associations meet

CHENNAI: Representatives of 50 non-governmental organisations and associations of the transgendered, or aravanis, sat down to discuss the problems of the community at a one-day training programme here on Thursday.

The rights of the transgendered, taking a census of the community, fostering their self-respect and providing them with housing, voting rights and pension were some of the topics discussed.

The central concerns of the transgendered were economic empowerment, recognition of their gender and legalising of sex change surgery, said officials of the Tamilnadu Social Welfare Board, which organised the programme.

They suggested vocational training and providing an employment quota within government departments would help empower the community. They said that the case of the transgendered who were given government jobs but had left due to harassment would be investigated.

Resolving issues like recognition of the transgendered as belonging to the gender of choice and legalising sex-change surgery were dependent on Central legislation, they said. C.R. Saraswati, chairperson, Tamilnadu Social Welfare Board, said this was the first time she was being exposed to the issues raised.

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