The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Classify aravanis as women: association

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Tuesday, Apr 22, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Classify aravanis as women: association

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister thanked for setting up welfare board

VILLUPURAM: The Villupuram Aravanis (Women) Welfare Association is averse to the demand for declaring the aravanis as a third gender. According to district coordinator of the association N. Ramamurthy, such a demand is meaningless.

Since the aravanis, who are basically males, opt to transform into females, it would be apt to classify them as women. To stress this point the association has included the term “women” in its name.

Mr. Ramamurthy told reporters here on Monday that Villupuram was the first district to sanction old age pension to 20 aravanis by grouping them as women. When the annual 18-day Koovagam festivities were under way, the association urged the government to give aravanis a fair chance to join the mainstream, instead of segregating them.

Mr. Ramamurthy underscored the point that in the northern parts of the country, aravanis were respectable people who were invited to family functions, particularly at the time of child’s birth, christening ceremony and whenever girls attain womanhood. The moviemakers should desist from negative portrayal of aravanis, he said.

Welfare board

Chairperson Radha said the association was thankful to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi for having constituted a welfare board for the aravanis/transgenders. However, Radha urged the government to induct at least two members from each district as the board members. The association was of the view that since the Koovagam festival was being held in Villupuram the association should be entrusted with the responsibility of conducting the fete. It also sought adequate funds for the purpose.

Mr. Ramamurthy said the aravanis were quite accomplished enough and therefore to showcase their skills, the association was conducting various competitions during the period. The Miss Koovagam beauty pageant, slated for Tuesday, was an occasion to look forward, he said. The aravanis were also demanding ration cards because it was a valid document for obtaining bank loans for setting up self-help ventures. Since, the aravanis used to leave their families in the early age, their names could not figure in the ration cards and therefore, the demand for separate cards.

The Koothandavar temple at Koovagam, situated about five km from Parikkal in Ulundurpet taluk, has been drawing a large number of transgenders from across the country to participate in the festival. Started on April 5, the fete will conclude on April 23.

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