Why don't most eunuchs have ration cards or voting rights? Four city law students want answers to some simple questions
Why don't most eunuchs have ration cards or voting rights? Four city law students want answers to some simple questions
Nirav Marjadi (19), Kushal Mehta (19), Dharampal Dave (18) and Jay Vakil (19) are law students who take the law very seriously. Instead of giving lip service to laws about equality, the four second-year students of SVKM Law College have decided to fight for the basic rights of eunuchs in India.
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Crusaders: Kushal Mehta (middle) and Nirav Marjadi (right) (left) Dharampal Dave. pic/Kranti Vibhute |
Inspired by Tamil Nadu's decision to give ration cards to eunuchs with a third sex option, Marjadi filed a Right to Information (RTI) application before the Public Information Officer and ministry of social justice and empowerment, Maharashtra, on May 6 to know the laws, education schemes, employment schemes and the rules for provision of ration cards for eunuchs in this state.
"When Tamil Nadu can give ration card to eunuchs, then why is our state lagging behind in helping them," questioned Marjadi.
Next step
As their second step, Dave will file an RTI application before the election commission today to know about the voting rights for eunuchs. "Justice must be seen to be done. Why should eunuchs be reduced to begging and prostitution just because the government is not providing them with basic amenities like a ration card?"
Based on the answers, the group will file a petition in the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission to ensure that eunuchs get their rights.
The students have taken up this endeavour under the guidance of their professors and retired high court judges. Their move has been welcomed not only by eunuchs, but also the other marginalised communities.u00a0u00a0
Eunuch Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, the founder of the NGO Astitva, said, "My support is with these students.
Everyone wants his or her own identity." Tripathi holds the credit of being the only eunuch in the UN's Civil Society Task Force on HIV/AIDS.
Ashok Row Kavi, gay rights activist and chairperson of the Humsafar Trust, said, "We, at Humsafar, strongly feel there should be a welfare body that can keep their data. They also need to be provided with ration cards, special wards in hospitals, etc."
Transsexual actor Bobby Darling too welcomed the move, saying, "Eunuchs need to get their basic amenities. Hats off to these students who are fighting for their rights."
1.2 millionThe estimated number of eunuchs in India
90%The estimated percentage of eunuchs who live in poverty
