The third gender

After the Supreme Court gave transgenders the status of the third gender in April last year, a Bill was expected to safeguard their rights. The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill 2014 was delayed awaiting clarifications and rectifications from various ministries. Now moved as a private member's Bill, it has been unanimously passed by the Rajya Sabha. The unanimity and urgency shown by the House to pass the Bill cutting across party lines is appreciable for a community which has received inhuman treatment for centuries.
Though laws alone do not change mindsets, setting parameters of social equality will guarantee a sense of dignity to a community that is humiliated for no fault of its own, forcing its members to hide in shame and anonymity. The last census, in a first-of-its-kind exercise, showed only about 4.9 lakh transgenders, of which 55,000 were found to be in the 0-6 population. The fact is, close to two million transgenders living in the country do not wish to disclose their gender identity for fear of being treated unfairly. Instances of transgenders dying before receiving any treatment due to the uncertainty about which ward they should be admitted to, or, rape victims not even getting examined abound, because doctors are scared of them. 
The curriculum for medical education should incorporate a few chapters on the health issues of the community. The transgender children are ensured admission under the RTE Act, and employment under the OBC category, but the ground reality still remains unchanged. Section 377 of the IPC is being misused by the police and other authorities against them on a large scale. The social stigma attached to the transgenders should not allow violations of their rights. The government should have provision for penalising those who discriminate against them, so that even though late in recognising their rights of equality, we do not falter in protecting their dignity.