With an aim to provide honourable identity to the transgenders, Madhya Pradesh Government has suggested that the third gender members be addressed by adding ‘Tgr’ before their names on the lines of ‘Mr, Mrs and Ms’ in English and ‘Ki’ in Hindi.
The State Government has sent a proposal in this regard to the Centre.
Social Justice Department Secretary VK Batham while talking to The Pioneer over the issue said, “The Government is facing problems in identifying the large number of persons belonging to transgender category. We, therefore, have proposed to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to identify them with three alphabet letters ‘Tgr’ on the lines of Mr, Mrs and Ms in English.”
Batham further said that similarly, the kinnars (transgenders) can be identified as ‘Ki’ on the lines of ‘Shri, Shrimati and Sushri’ in Hindi.
The Government will soon appoint a chairperson from among the community for the Kinnar Board constituted for their welfare, he said.
He said that the board will create awareness among the third gender about ongoing welfare programmes related to literacy, sanitation and health.
According to official estimates, there are nearly 2,500 transgenders in Madhya Pradesh but their actual number could be higher. Most of them make a living by singing and dancing at various celebrations, Batham said.
Their income is meagre and when they grow old, they become financially dependent on their "chelas" (students). The Board will effectively address this and other problems being faced by the community members, he added.