'How can a panel decide if we are hijras or not?'

Transgenders have vehemently opposed the Transgenders Persons Protection of Rights Bill (2016). The community believes it hasn't been made in their interest and has several loopholes.

The Bill says whether an individual is a transgender or not would be determined by a centralised panel comprising of a local CMO, a psychiatrist, a social worker, a transgender and a government representative, who will issue a transgender certificate.

Prominent leaders, human rights representatives and social activists from the community opposed the idea of a panel asking them their identity. "People don't know what has gone into coming out... And yet, some panel will decide my identity? It's an insult and I won't have it," said Avni, a transgenders' rights activist from Malwani.

The lack of reservation and narrowing of gender identity options are some of the main reasons behind the community's outrage. The community feels that the 2014 NALSA judgment, which identified transgenders as a third gender, was a more inclusive Bill. "Government officials said locals were spoken to before taking a decision. Not as single transgender was asked anything. How have they taken data exactly?" asked Avni.

When asked about people posing as transgenders and looting people, another activist Kinnerma said, "Does a criminal have a gender? The government should pay more attention to addressing the atrocities happening against our community rather than questioning our existence."