The double marginalization of trans people: social avoidance that is ignored by the government

Back in 2021, two trans women, Anandi and Aisha Kousar, had to sell their gold earrings to make a living in the second wave of the second wave of Bengaluru. Two transgender people ended up buying a cart, stove, gasoline and basic cooking equipment to sell tea and snacks to workers in the Hudson circle and are determined to take care of their three adopted children.

Although Anandi and Aisha were able to start a small business with a small amount of gold, many others in the trans community still face significant challenges in accessing basic education, employment opportunities and support for entrepreneurship, as continued attention and meaningful welfare measures hold meaningful welfare measures for state and local sexual minorities.

Ignore in the national budget

In March, the Karnataka government led by Siddaramaiah proposed a budget for 2025-26, which did not mention funding allocations for sexual minorities in the state. Following the budget, members of the Gender and Sex Diversity Movement (MGSP) expressed strong concern about the ongoing marginalization of gender and sexual minorities at the press conference. Activists criticized the Chief Minister for “repeatedly neglecting” the needs of his community, despite several calls for financial allocation and inclusive policy reforms.

Manohar Elavarthi, the movement’s representative, noted that they proposed five key requirements ahead of the budget, aiming to enhance opportunities and benefits for gender and sexual minorities. Their needs include the introduction of a dedicated welfare scheme for transgender people, increasing financial support from entrepreneurs from gender and sexual minority communities, and proposed Rs 20 lakh from the existing Rs 50,000, free sexual redistribution surgery, vocational training in line with the 1% level of retention, which provides 1% level of retention in government work and promotes the creation of government agencies and promotes the creation of their respective government agencies.

Elavarathi expressed disappointment at the lack of reaction, questioning why a budget of over Rs 4 billion cannot allocate something to enhance marginalized communities. According to the 2011 census, Karnataka has a trans population of 20,266, and now, according to people in the community, this may have doubled.

Citizen Budget No mention

Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)’s 2025-26 budget is not a big promise. Citizen institutions have allocated Rs 1 million to the welfare of economically backward classes, including transgender communities.

The Budget says that the BBMP will provide financial assistance to entrepreneurs through 50% of the project cost or up to 500 qualified candidates, from all lagging classes, to provide up to 2 lag of Rs. According to official records of the Bangalore Urban Area Commissioner, as of December 2022, there were 9,182 transgender people in Bangalore as of December 2022.

Speech Hindu38-year-old thr woman Rekha (name change) begged near KR market: “I have been begging for signals for many years, not because I want to, but because I never had the opportunity to study or work.

Unlike Rekha, Meena, 30, managed to get trained as a beautician but still faced several obstacles. “I managed to complete the course for beauticians with the help of a NGO, but I still have a hard time paying rent and buying products. Currently, I am at a friend’s beauty salon or providing family services. Trans female beauticians have a hard time finding clients because the client is scared to be just around us. Subsidies, but our hopes are ignored again.

ensure

Trans activist Akkai Padmashali said the community welcomes the state government’s move to expand five guarantees to trans communities. However, they want more education and job opportunities.

Transgender rights holder Akkai Padmashali. |Picture source: K. Murali Kumar

“The Budget in general is lacking focus on the vulnerable sections including Devadasis, sex workers and others. If a person wants to start a business or start-up, the minimum requirement is ₹5 lakh, but the government is not giving enough. The State must also have a separate Budget for the community based on the population of each city, the trans community’s population in Bengaluru is different to that of the community of Hubballi or Dharwad.”

Akkai added that the community will soon meet with politicians, including Lakshmi Hebbalkar, Minister of Women and Child Development, DK Shivakumar, Minister of Development of Bangalore, and Chief Minister, requesting separate budget allocations for trans communities.

Rakshitha Mallikarjuna, a trans activist from Ondede, focused on the welfare of young people, said: “It is disappointing that the state government has been ignoring our community in the last few budgets. In the 2023-24 budget, the number of pensions in the community increased from Rs 800 to Rs 1,200 in the 2023-24 budget, when our pensions were all increased, and we received our income again. Plan our community is happy, but like pensions, not every trans person in the state receives funds through the scheme.

Vinod Kartavya, a social worker who has worked closely with the trans community for many years, believes that no one in the trans community calls it a “family”, which is why they need additional support. “Their parents or siblings gave up on them, which is not only emotionally traumatizing, but also plays a huge role in trans people not having permanent addresses and having basic documents or services like basic documents or services, such as basic documents or services.

No welfare committee

According to Karnataka Transgender Policy – In 2017, the state must have a welfare committee to protect the rights and interests of transgender people to ensure access to welfare schemes and to resolve any complaints. The Board of Directors oversees the implementation of the policy, including issuing ID cards, conducting awareness plans and launching welfare plans. But the board of directors was long-established.

“The Welfare Commission has made no progress at all. We also require that at least one person in the community be represented in the Legislative Assembly or Council, because being a political representative or within the political world is the only way forward.”

Vinod added that even when transgender identity is determined, the government is facing difficulties. “The problem with trans communities is that they are nomads, moving around from various regions, making it difficult for the government to identify them. There are also people wearing saris and wigs, they are not really trans people because begging is a source of income. When asked to identify, these people fled, and these people are still very dispersed. There are both competitors and no identification committee.