25 transgenders get Aadhaar cards in Kadapa

Kadapa: In a first of its kind in the entire country and also in the State, around 25 people belonging to the transgender community were issued Aadhaar cards among the 350 living in the district. According to sources, the district administration has also urged the Civil Supplies Department to providing them white ration cards. This was taken up at the instance and the initiative of Kadapa District Collector.

There are 350 transgenders in the district were spending their livelihood by begging and some of them were resorting to crimes such as stealing and committing highway robberies in the district. There are several complaints lodged in the police stations by the victims who were manhandled by the transgenders when they were ignored and refused money. It has become a big headache to the police administration in detaining them in the police stations due to various reasons and legal problems.

As it was escalating into a major law and order problem and going out of hand with several people facing bitter experiences on the national highways, District Superintendent of Police Babujee Attada had brought the issue to the notice of the collector T Babu Rao Naidu during recent discussions. In this connection, the District Collector has taken a bold and daring step in issuing Aadhaar Cards to them.

He said that 25 were already issued such cards remaining under process. Speaking to The Hans India here on Monday, the District Collector said, “We are being kind to beggars, the disabled, victims of AIDS, and even towards stray animals. Why should we discriminate against the transgenders? Was it their fault to be born with the biological defect,” he asked.

Meanwhile, there are several interesting reasons as the third gender become beggars and indulging in the crimes. About 60 people were residing at A.K Nagar in the city. One V.Kalki who was a post graduate(MSc) from Yogi Vemana University said that she had joined in a private school as teacher in Prodduturu , teased by school corresponded. Even students were also laughing s at her in the class room. “I think there will be no option for me to enter in begging. In my view begging is a not crime as I feel it is a respectable job, “ she lamented.

Another transgender B Sagarika who completed B Tech said that living with begging was the best way become burden to the parents. “When I was staying along with my parents, I was humiliated badly by the neighbors. I feel it was unbearable and shameful.

So I left home happily leading a life along with my colleagues. I am not ashamed of begging” she said Like Kalki, Sagarika , there are several people completed graduation and post- graduations selected their own lifestyle. Thanks to the administration for its initiative in taking such an innovative step on humanitarian grounds”, she added.