Mere promises of jobs and development will not be enough to woo an important section of the society this lok Sabha election, or so it seems. The transgender community in the State is meeting top political leaders regarding their demands and will soon be meeting BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, Narendra Modi.
Firebrand gender activist of Chhattisgarh, Raveena Bariha, has recently returned from New Delhi, where she met top leaders and decision makers of the BJP and the Congress. She is expecting that demands of the transgender community -- like formation of a welfare board for transgenders, a special law to protect the community -- get adequate attention in manifestos of the national as well as the regional political parties. This clearly states that ignoring transgenders, this election, is likely to burn a hole into the vote banks of the parties.
“Needs and demands of the transgender community are much more than decriminalisation of Section 377. We have a lot more important issues that deserve attention from political parties. We are planning to meet Narendra Modi in Varanasi within April 10 to April 15,” said Bariha talking to The Pioneer.
Presently, the Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a few political parties in South India have stated in their election manifestos that they will decriminalise consensual sex between two homosexual adults (Section 377).Out of 5,000- 6,000 transgenders in the State, more than 2,000 transgenders have their voter IDs. The community has drafted its demands and is keen to get support of political parties.
“The Congress manifesto has not extended much support to our community as we expected. Now we are waiting for the BJP’s poll promises,” said Bariha. Gender activists from the State have also met top leaders the BJP, the Congress and other parties to convince them to include their demands in their manifestos.