[5] THE THIRD GENDER COMMUNITY IN INDIA: CHALLENGES AND REMEDIES

Date of Submission: Nov 12 2023, Revised: Dec 05, 2023, Accepted: Dec 18, 2023, CrossRef d.o.i. : https://doi.org/10.56815/ijmrr.v2i4.2023.51-59

Abstract

The Gender identity of an individual plays an important aspect of life, as Gender often refers to a person’s intrinsic value of being a female, male, transgender or transsexual. Sometimes, we find instances, when our body is not tune with all of its proper attributes. This leads to genital anatomy problems and an individual may opt to undergo surgery. There might be cases, when the individual do not have access to the operation. Everyone is entitled to enjoy basic human rights which becomes the fundamental necessity to survive among our peers, without discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. ‘Transgender’ means a person who is— (A) Neither wholly female nor wholly male; or (B) A combination of female or male; or (C) Neither female nor male; and whose sense of gender does not match with the gender assigned to that person at the time of birth, and includes trans-men and transwomen, persons with intersex variations and gender-queers (Kinra 2019). Third Gender is usually out of the mainstream gender discourse but they face acute neglect and discrimination because of their gender which makes them the most disempowered and deprived gender. The discussion is limited to the issues of third gender which includes eunuchs, hermophrodites, Shiv-shaktis, Aradhis, Sakhis, Hijras, Kothis, Jogtas/Jogappas, Kinnars, Khusras etc.