Sex change, shift from one trap to another

Rachna Khaira

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, August 22

Those not comfortable with the gender they are born with have a legal option of undergoing a sex-change surgery to become who they feel they really are. A majority of those seeking the “sex reassignment surgery (SRS)” are, however, doing it for a sad motivation — greater income in prostitution, a profession many transgenders find themselves forced into.

Jalandhar, often referred to as the medical hub of North India, has also become a centre of sorts for SRS. The Supreme Court in 2014 had ruled that governments cannot deprive a person of the right to acquire the preferred gender through surgery. The procedures, however, are conducted under utmost secrecy, for hospitals fear social reprisal. Chandni was thrown out by ‘her’ family after they became aware of her transgender status around 14 years ago. Now 22, and with no job, Chandni has felt compelled to join prostitution, in aid of which she underwent sex change in the city recently.

“Unlike most people, we do not get equal opportunity to study or work. Also, most of us are disowned by our families. With no support, more than 90 per cent of us end up in the flesh trade,” she told The Tribune. “As a transgender, we earn Rs 1,000-3,000 for a night; now as a ‘girl’, I can even get up to Rs 30,000. With no other means of income, the surgery has come as a lifeline to me,” Chandni said. She now also finds it easier to enter “reputed” dance bars, clubs or party joints.

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This is also a reason why the majority of such surgeries are sought to change from male to female.

The hospitals offering this service do not want to highlight it as they fear the wrath of socio-religious groups. But the hush-hush manner also makes it possible for them to exploit those seeking the surgery by charging arbitrary amounts. One transgender in the city claimed hospitals ask for anything between Rs 2 lakh and 7 lakh.

“They squeeze everything out of us. I got my surgery done last year from a reputed hospital here, and paid over Rs 5 lakh, nearly all my savings,” claimed 20-year-old Ruhi, another transgender. She wanted that Punjab, like Kerala, should also introduce the facility at a few government hospitals. “If the government cannot provide us education and job opportunities, it should at least provide us this treatment free of cost,” she demanded. Ruhi was born a boy to a bank employee in Kapurthala, but could never identify with her male body.

While the legal sanction given to sex-reassignment surgeries may have provided a lifeline to the sexual minority who feel trapped inside their bodies, the lack of empathy and rehabilitation opportunities is increasingly leading to the victimisation of innocent lives.

(All names in the report have been changed to protect the identity of the persons concerned.)