Creating viable environment for gender-variant people mooted
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, January 31 2018:
With the objective of creating awareness among the common masses and private sector institutions in the State about the existence of sexual and gender minorities and the economic exclusion they face in the society, a two-day "Exhibition on Outcomes and Documentation of Gender & Sexual Minorities: Economic Inclusion Advocacy Project" began today at Nupi Lal Memorial Hall.
The exhibition being held under the banner "Flying High Without Barriers" is jointly organised by All Manipur Nupi Maanbi Association (AMANA), Empowering Trans Ability (ETA), Solidarity and Action Against The HIV Infection in India (SAATHI).
Talking to this daily, social researcher, writer and queer activist Pawan Dhall conveyed that outcomes and documentation of an 18-month project on economic inclusion of gender and sexual minorities in Manipur will be displayed during the exhibition.
He said that the project advocates economic inclusion of LGBT or gender-variant people/communities.
He pointed out that besides facing rejection and discrimination in work places, gender-variant people are being excluded in terms of economic rights in the Indian society thereby depriving them of many social welfare schemes and healthcare services.
He asserted that it is high time to sensitise the people including media personnel on these aspects to create a viable environment for the gender-variant people.
He said that the literacy rate of transgenders in the State is relatively lesser as compared to other States which is due to absence of access to proper education system.
Claiming that there has been a significant impact of the exposure of the project in the society, he said that some people have already started offering jobs to transgenders and child protection authorities have also shown keen interest in holding discussions on school dropouts by gender-variant children.
AMANA secretary Shanta Khurai noted that generating awareness amongst the masses about the existence of sexual and gender minority communities and sensitizing the society, particularly the stakeholders and entrepreneurs about economic exclusion of gender-variant people is the need of the hour to curb the issue.
Shanta Khurai exuded confidence that the creating such an awareness will go a long way towards creating a conducive environment for gender-variant people to enable them come in the mainstream and avail the benefits, facilities and services available in the State.