Transgenders begging at traffic lights, ‘curse’ motorists if not paid

It was 10 am on Saturday, a scooter stopped at Bhai Bala Chowk, a person wearing a colourful ladies suit, wearing high heels, having face make-up, parked the vehicle under the bridge near the chowk. In no time, two more persons came, they were also wearing beautiful dresses, and joined the first one and started a chit-chat. All of them indulged in phone calls for a few minutes. After hanging up their phones, they spread around the intersection and when vehicles stopped, they ran towards commuters and asked for money.

Commuters who gave money were welcomed by them while those who refused had to face harsh comments. Some of the motorists even had to hold arguments after loosing their cool.

They are not usual beggars who look dirty having untidy hairs, wear unclean clothes, broken shoes or slippers and beg money on the pretext of buying food. In fact, these people proudly ask for money as it was their right. Meet them, they are not beggars, but transgenders who nowadays flock to traffic light points such as Hero Bakery chowk, Pavillion Chowk, Bhai Bala chowk, etc, in the city and ask for money from commuters.

They have formed groups and also divided their areas. Earlier, the administration, along with the police, had launched a drive against the menace. Besides beggars, these transgenders were also stopped from begging money at various traffic light points but as the campaign was slowed down, the transgenders have again reclaimed their areas to collect money.

On October 21, transgenders harassed and abused a woman at Pavillion Chowk. Following the incident, the woman’s father had lodged a police complaint.

“I was riding my two-wheeler and stopped at the red light point when I was approached by a transgender. For not wanting to engage further, I tried to move away but they followed me and later ganged up with two others, hurling abuses, using vulgar language and making derogatory remarks that no real woman would ever say to another woman. When I called for help from people stopped at the red light, nobody came forward, which made the situation even more terrifying. These individuals seeking alms were threatening using abusive and intimidating language and gestures, attempting to instil fear and extort money through harassment. Such hooliganism and thuggery in a well-known and busy area such as Pavilion Chowk is shocking and deeply concerning,” a woman mentioned in the complaint.

Another commuter, Renu Tandon, said: “These individuals are obstructing traffic by standing and moving constantly in the middle of the chowk, distracting commuters and begging, which is illegal and poses a danger to road safety. They are dressed in an obscene and indecent manner, using vulgar gestures to threaten people, especially women as they are their soft targets to extort money. People, especially women, elderly and children, are living in constant fear of such miscreants. It is a common grievance and many have faced similar problems but are hesitant to come forward due to fear and lack of action by the authorities”.

Another resident said: “At most places, traffic police personnel can be seen managing traffic but they ignore transgenders’ presence for reasons best known to them. CCTV cameras installed at various chowks across the city are consistently recording such incidents of begging and harassment, extortion, vulgarity, eve teasing, etc, occurring daily at many chowks of the city. Despite this, such activities continue to occur openly, indicating that these offenders operate without any fear”.