Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (JD/SP)
Udupi, Nov 19: Normally transgenders are looked down with derision and people keep distance from them. Our society never gave them the right of normal existence for which they are entitled to. The district has a transgender population of about 2,000. Out of them, except 283, most others beg or indulge in sex work etc.
Even though they face impatience and hatred from many, a team from here has got involved with humane initiatives and therefore deserves to be lauded.
A 30-month-old girl, Aradhya from Madanthyar in Dakshina Kannada district, suffered from total loss of hearing. The girl was also unable to speak. The family found it impossible to put together Rs 14 lac needed for the surgery. The surgery was to be performed within three months to be successful.
The team of transgenders from here somehow came to know about the plight of this toddler, and went around Udupi district to collect money. Sameeksha, who holds masters degree in business administration, gave leadership to the team. She along with Sanvi, Rekha, Sandhya, Nisha and Laavanya visited shops, offices, markets and houses in the district and collected about Rs 21,000 in a single day. The amount was delivered to the family of the baby.
Through this act, the transgenders have proved that they too have a golden heart and they want to serve the society. The amount, on the face of it, might look small but the fact that these people throbbed for the baby's plight gives a sublime feeling.
The transgenders in the district have come together and formed an organisation, 'Ashraya Samudaya', which has 283 members. The organization has members who have completed PU education, degree, post graduation etc. During the lockdown period, a team led by Sameeksha had distributed Biryani packets to destitute, listless and homeless people found at the bus stand here. Sameeksha spent her own money to provide rice and food grain kits to ten houses. They did all this not for any publicity. While the help and donations made by people who are in the mainstream of the society gets good publicity, the service rendered by transgenders for helping a small child to gain her hearing ability and lead a normal life, goes unrecognised. They have become role models for even those in the mainstream.
People in general have misconceptions about the transgenders. Jayashtre Bhat, a personal counsellor, who is engaged in social work involving the transgenders and the disowned people, insists that there is a need to create awareness among the people about them, they should be given the benefit of reservation, and efforts to bring them to the mainstream should be done. She feels that the society at large can have a totally different point of view about them if awareness and knowledge about the transgenders is provided to the children at the school level itself.