A five-member delegation of the TG Suraksha Trust and the Nikhil Odisha Kinner and Third Gender Mahasangha on Tuesday met Home (Election) Department Joint Chief Secretary Bhawani Prasad Ray and submitted a memorandum to him for fulfilment of their six-point charter of demands.
The demands included providing a five-per cent reservation for third gender in Rajya Sabha, lok Sabha and State Assembly, selection of two transgenders for Rajya Sabha among 12 nominated by the President of India, reservation of five per cent for Councillor posts in the upcoming municipality elections in Odisha, organisation of special camps for the transgenders and provision of voter identification card to them.
Ray reportedly assured the delegation that the authorities would bring the demands to the notice of the Election Commission of India (ECI) and try to get them fulfilled at the earliest.
TG Suraksha Trust president Menka said that though the Supreme Court has created the third gender status for the transgenders and asked all the State Governments to bring them into the mainstream of the society, they are yet to access their political rights.
As there is reservation for women, other backward classes and others in different sectors, there should be a five-per cent reservation in all sectors for the third genders so that they can contest elections, Menka added. Among others, Pratap Kumar Sahu, TG Suraksha Trust VP Sweety, Priya, Rina, Puja, Sonali and Guduli were present.