The Third Eye... (Conclusion)

Social Upliftment

• Comprehensive civil rights legislation should be enacted to offer eunuch the same protection and rights now guaranteed to others on the basis of sex, caste, creed and colour. A clause may be included wherever the word person is defined to include third sex. Courts must interpret sex as including male, female and eunuch.
• Laws should be made to punish the person who discriminates on the basis of their gender identity. A comprehensive sexual assault law should be enacted applying to all persons irrespective of their sexual orientation and marital status.
• Civil rights under law such as the right to get a ration card, make a will, inherit property and adopt children must be available to all regardless of change in gender/sex identities. Right to marry is a fundamental right of the people so; laws must be made regarding the marriages of eunuch. In voter’s identity card, one category of eunuch can be added other than male/ female.
• Education is one area where eunuchs find themselves alienated. I propose special schools for them, or be inducted in normal schools under special provisions. Education will provide them self confidence as well as a way forward to be getting jobs in future.
• I also propose a nationwide campaign to enlighten the mainstream citizen about the tattered condition of eunuchs and consider them as human as they themselves are. The main aim should be to bring the eunuchs in the mainstream population and bridge the gap as well as stave off the coming generation from detesting them. If by the wide campaign of polio vaccination India has achieved a tag of polio-free nation in about ten years, this mental virus can also be obliterated. 

 Econonomic Upliftment

• A leaf can be taken out of the books of PC Air Thailand,which in the past recruited four eunuchs in its cabin crew in order to provide equal opportunity to them.Similarly, Pakistan's national database has appointed three eunuchs as data entry operators and were designated as officials of the 'National Database and Registration Authority'.
• Since a large chunk of eunuchs live by begging in the train, they have fair knowledge of railways and areas around railway stations. They can be employed in railways for jobs based on their intellect and abilities e.g. as clerks, sanitation personnel, vendors, pantry personnel etc
• On conversation with eunuchs, they wished to start business of producing pickles, papads and other homemade products. Some of them even wanted to learn embroidery work on cloths apart from normal sewing work in which they are currently involved. The biggest roadblock for them is the lack of source of funds as they are totally deprived of financial backing. This can be done away with by forming a cooperative society in each state with its local centres based on eunuch’s population density in the area. The society will address their problems and request the government for easy loans at subsidised rate. The moratorium period for their business should also be prolonged to give them a firm beginning.
• Historically,in the Mughal dynasty,eunuchs found a place in society where they were appointed as royal guards for the queens.The emperors found them strong and trustworthy enough to guard his family while he would be away at war.A similar role can be given to eunuchs in today’s context,where both the husband and wife are working and need someone to look after and protect their children at crèches or homes.
• Eunuchs have always used the song and dance routine to embarrass people into paying them money.The Government can use this skill of their’s to appoint them as Tax collection agents,who can publicly humiliate a defaulter until he agrees to clear his dues.
• According to the latest census,the largest population of eunuchs in India,hail from the states of U.P.,Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh which are famous for leather industry,sugarcane – cotton industry and food processing industry respectively.The Government should focus on providing pertinent training to the eunuchs in these states to make them employable in such industries

Silver Lining in the cloud

• ·The tri-gender classification in the census of India, 2011 and inclusion of third gender option in Aadhar card shows a positive and an affirmative stand form the side of central government. This move will help the eunuchs to finally find their identity which was denied to them for long. They will be able to find their names on voter’s list, get ration card, passport, and driving license etc.
•  The Bihar government is trying out innovative ways to involve the eunuchs in socially useful work. It has come out with a proposal for the eunuchs to work as drivers, guards. They will also be given vocational training and education which will help those getting jobs and raise their socio-economic condition.
•  After being given voting rights in 1994, eunuchs have taken this right quite seriously. The statement is quite evident from the fact that Shabnam Mausi Bano, an MLA candidate from Sohagpur constituency of Madhya Pradesh won the seat being an eunuch showcasing the positivity that has been cropping up in the minds of mainstream population. 

Note: I had presented an international paper on this topic at IRC, 2014.