Another Star Lost: Transwoman Tara died in mysterious circumstances

Another 28-year-old trans woman has allegedly lost her life on November 9 to the police's assault in Pondy Bazar,Chennai. 

Ms.Tara, had gone to the local mobile store at 4 a.m. She encountered the police, who had taken her to the Pondy Bazar police station. There she demanded her confiscated property. Later, she was found dead by setting herself on fire, according to the police's version. The incident led to a city-wide protest by the transgender community, demanding action against the police.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgH7CZ3c7Zk

Grace Banu is the 'Transgender Rights Activist' and the first transgender Engineering student. She has actively taken part in all the protests that are going on in Tara's case. She suspects foul play in the police's version and has claimed that Tara has been murdered.

Being an active part of the ongoing inquiry, she said everything had gone smoothly in the latest meeting with the authorities. 

She had also informed that on humanitarian grounds (unofficially), few police personnel from Pondy Bazar R4 police station have collected money (One lakh and ten thousand rupees) and had given it to Tara's family as compensation. The police personnel had ensured that that will not be taken as a compromise. The money was given to Tara’s family because Tara’s mother had told that they took loan to perform Tara’s last rites. Everything else will go on as per law. 

Next inquiry will take place after a month. 

Source: Grace Banu's FB

Tara's untimely sad demise has once again brought up the issue of 'Transgenders' Rights in India', in the limelight.

History of Transgender Rights in India

2008: Nadu Aravanigal (Transgender women) Welfare Board 

It was a landmark initiative which was first of its kind in the whole Asia-Pacific region. It was initiated in April 2008. Its Purpose was to address the issues faced by transgender people including education, income generation and other social security measures. Several steps were taken including: 

1. Conducted enumeration of Transgender populations in all 32 districts of Tamil Nadu. 

2. In some places issued identity cards - with the gender identity mentioned as "Aravani". 

3. It also started issuing ration cards (for buying food and other items from government-run fair-price shops). 

4. Performs free sex reassignment surgery in select government hospitals. 

5. Enroll transgender people in government educational institutions.

6. Explicitly include 'other' or 'third gender' category in the 35 admission forms . (Source: UNDP Report 2010) 

Chennai based NGO, Sahodaran's Managing Director, Ms.Jaya, advocating Transgender Rights in United Nations. Picture courtesy: Sahodaran

2009

India's Election Commission allowed transgenders to choose their gender as "other" on ballot forms. (Source: BBC) 

2014 

Supreme Court had stated it as a 'Human Rights Issue' and said, "Transgenders are also citizens of India" and they must be "provided equal opportunity to grow". (Source: BBC) . 

Also, 'Rights of Transgender Persons Bill', which seeks to end the discrimination faced by transgender people in India was passed by the upper house Rajya Sabha on 24 April 2015. 

2016: The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill

2016 Transgenders protesting for their rights in Chennai.Picture courtesy: Sahodaran

Transgenders protesting for their rights in Chennai. Picture courtesy: Sahodaran

It gives the status of OBC and extend its privileges. Proposes imprisonment of least six months — two years — along with a penalty for people found guilty of compelling a transgender person to beg, denying them access to a public place, forcing or causing a transgender person to leave his/her house or village, and harming or injuring their physical or mental well-being. (Source: The Indian Express) 

Its failure is to provide an option of choosing an identify for themselves either as a “man”, “woman” or “transgender”.

PROVIDING SOLUTIONS

The root cause of the problem is the social stigma attached to the transgender people. Following should be done to help bring justice not only to Tara but to the whole transgender community.

1. Police should be sensitized towards transgender community. 

2. Complaint of harassment registered against Police personnel should be fairly inquired and liable to punishment. 

3. Transgenders should be made aware of their rights. 

4. Public should be sensitized towards transgenders.