The Nikhila Odisha Hijra and Trutiya linga Mahasangha, a body fighting for the rights of transgenders in the State, has demanded provision of a Rajya Sabha ticket to them.
Mahasangha president Pratap Sahu said three Rajya Sabha seats from Odisha are going to be filled up next month. The BJP, the BJD and the Congress should unanimously select a transgender (TG) to one of these seats.
Sahu said, “While in many States, the transgenders are given some crucial responsibilities; in Odisha forms of many Government departments do not have TG in mention. Besides, the State Government has not yet implemented the longstanding demands of a five-per cent reservation in Government jobs and a four-per cent reservation in politics for the TGs.”
The State Government now should elect a transgender as a Rajya Sabha member, Sahu demanded.