State first in country to open centre for trans-boys/girls: Ng Uttam
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, December 04 2023: Manipur has become the first state in India to open one each children's home for trans-boys and transgirls and opening of these centres will help in eradicating social stigmatisation of transgender, stated director (social welfare) Ng Uttam.

In an exclusive interview, Ng Uttam told The People's Chronicle that transgender people faced stigma in the society but various measures are being taken up to eradicate the same.

Among the measures include ensuring self-sustenance for transgender people and opening of children's home for trans-boys and trans-girls, Uttam said and claimed that Manipur has become the first in the country to have one each children's home for trans-boys and trans-girls.

According to Ng Uttam, transgender children (boys) with accompanying female characteristic from birth often get bullied and dishonoured.

The trauma such transgender children face could be addressed with proper counselling at cliildren's home specifically opened for them.

Opening centre for transgender children in the state would enable transgender people to live without stigma in the society and having such centres would help in taking up welfare programmes for transgender people properly, Uttam said.

Transgender people face inconvenience at institutions and airports where there is no separate toilet for them but discussion for sending a proposal to central authority for installing separate toilet for transgender people will be held.

A survey for transgender people had already been conducted in the state but result of the survey remains unsatisfied as detection of transgender people below the age of 18 is arduous compared to adult transgender people.

Accordingly, a proper survey is required and the department is planning to conduct the same, Uttam added.

Regarding the children's home for trans-boys opened at Patsoi, Ora Centre for Transboy president Deep Thoudam informed The People's Chronicle that the centre currently houses three trans-boys aged below 18 years of age and they are given counselling twice a month.

One main objective of opening the centre is to eliminate social stigma against transgender people and provide them proper education so that they could live freely without facing trauma in the society, he said, adding the centre was opened with fund from social welfare department from April, 2022.He also said that giving counselling to transgender people is very important as this will enable them to live freely in the society.

Regarding the Transpride Children's Home for Trans-Girl opened at Ghari in April this year, Nirvana Foundation secretary Sobhana Sorokhaibam said that the foundation runs the centre having capacity of housing 25 inmates but 11 trans-girls and one affected by the ongoing violence are currently staying in the centre.

Shyness forced trans-girls to drop out and stop education but the centre is giving counselling to eliminate stigma against trans-people and help them concentratein their education.

Apart from this, they are given Yoga and vocational training so that they could stand up for themselves, she said, adding that the centre has been able to eliminate stigma against the inmates.

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