The Clapping Demigod

If I am standing on the road and an individual starts harassing me nobody will come and help me rather people will join that individual. The honor of people like me is of no value in front of the society”.
What would it be like to watch demigods walk on the surface of the earth? Will mere mortals be grateful, will they be in awe or will they be in disbelief? All of these feelings arise when one sees something out of the usual, something divine that they did not think was possible. These fantasies do sound beautiful when thought about but in reality, when a demigod walks the earth, they are stripped of their dignity, despite being counted amongst the gods they are snatched of their basic human requirements. They are made to believe that they are the problem and it’s their flaw to be what they are.

‘Transgender’ the community that was considered to be equal to demigods is now treated worse than humans. Shanti Devi a Trans woman explains that society views them as a toy for amusement, people of her community are not considered human, and they are taken as subjects of mockery and ridicule. The Indian government passed an act to protect the basic needs of the transgender community. This act promised
Definition of transgender person: this bill identifies individuals as someone whose gender assigned at birth does not match their gender identity and protects their identity.

Protection from Discrimination: This act protects Trans people from facing discrimination in any form. It allows them equal opportunity of employment, education and to enjoy basic facilities available to the public. This act enables transgender individuals to hold and sustain public or private office. It makes sure that they have access to all public establishments which are open to the public. This act is a crucial tool to maintain basic honor for transgender individuals to maintain their identity and dignity.

Right of Residence: It allows Trans people to rent, purchase, and sell a property. It protects them from being denied the above based on gender. A Trans individual has equal opportunity and access to do all the said activities without the fear of denial and discrimination

Employment: This act also provides equal or special opportunity to Trans individuals with the required skill set and eligibility, in no sense can a well-deserving candidate be denied a career opportunity on the basis of their gender expression or identity. Every private or public establishment has to assign a complaint officer who is supposed to deal with complaints regarding this act.

Education: This act protects the inclusivity of transgender by imploring institutions recognized by the government to provide educational, sports, and recreational facilities to transgender individuals without any discrimination

Healthcare: Healthcare facilities specific to transgender individuals require separate HIV surveillance centers to cater to the higher risk of HIV that transgender people possess. They need sex reassignment surgeries to be able to adopt the gender they feel natural to.

Certificate of Identity for a Transgender Person: To be identified as a transgender person, one needs to file an application to the magistrate regarding a certificate of identity with gender as transgender, this application can only be filed by individuals who have undergone surgeries to reassign their genders as a male or a female.

The government also carries out welfare measures and penalties against defaulting the provisions or rights made for transgender individuals. Although this seems to solve the problem. But on asking Shanti Devi about her daily struggles she says. “When I was young, I had to leave home today I beg on the streets because I did not get a formal education. How could I? People like us don’t even know what to do? Where to go? Whom to reach when we face any problem. For the public there are institutions but for us, the same institutions are doors of disrespect and humiliation. Even if the government does something for us, unfortunately, it does not reach us. I just wish I could have one opportunity at being able to live a life with dignity and respect. To walk on the road and not be ridiculed or mocked is a layman fantasy which we possess”.