MYSURU: Transsexuals looking for jobs and an opportunity to live a dignified life are denied employment, and many a times, even houses on rent.
These are some of the findings of a study titled ‘An Anthropological Study of Male to Female Transsexuals in Mysuru and Bengaluru Cities’ by research scholar S Nanjundaswamy of the Department of Anthropology, University of Mysore.
The doctoral degree research covered 300 respondents in the age group of 20 to 40 from the academic years 2010 to 2013. The respondents said there are no opportunities for livelihood, like cooperative ventures through government schemes.
Despite awareness programmes carried out by non-governmental organisations and government departments, around 92.67 per cent of respondents are deprived of ration card, 99.33 per cent of driving licence, 99 per cent house or site and 83 per cent of PAN cards.
The study revealed that at least 84 per cent of transsexuals are denied loan subsidy for self-employment and many are deprived of employment opportunities by the community. About 79 per cent are discriminated against, forcing them to rely on sex work for sustenance.
The respondents stated that they have been denied right to education on account of transsexuality, left their homes due to exclusion by society and also due to ill-treatment by doctors in times of need.
More than 80 per cent admitted that they have been victims of molestation and physical harassment, atrocities by fellow citizens and police. About 15 per cent of respondents stated that they were affected by the negative portrayal of the third gender in the media.
Some of the respondents disclosed that they mobilised funds on their own for sex reassignment surgery and underwent treatment.
The male-to-female transsexuals in Karnataka have suffered from social disadvantages, economic constraints, human rights violations to health hazards. However, they see a ray of hope in the recent Supreme Court judgment on rights of transgenders to live with dignity and economic independence. They also want society and families to accept their transsexuality.
Anthropology professor M R Gangadhar said the research findings have thrown light on the fact that the government needs to take measures for the health and sanitation, social welfare, economic development, gender sensitisation and opportunities for the marginalised section to bring them to mainstream of society.