Karnataka was lauded nationwide for being the first state in India to horizontally reserve jobs in public employment in favour of transgender persons in 2021. But one of the main petitioners in the case, Nisha Gulur of Sangama NGO, tells us the technical challenges the community has faced while attempting to avail this reservation.
In Video: Nisha Gulur & Anisha Reddy
Videographer: Jagadeesh Nv
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In Video: Nisha Gulur & Anisha Reddy
Videographer: Jagadeesh Nv
Follow us:
Website: https://www.outlookindia.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Outlookindia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/outlookindia/
X: https://twitter.com/Outlookindia
Whatsapp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaNrF3v0AgWLA6OnJH0R
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@OutlookMagazine
Dailymotion: https://www.dailymotion.com/outlookindia
#Karnataka #TransgenderRights #Transgender #Employment #NishaGulur #SangamaNGO #EqualityForAll #Pride #PrideMonth #LGBTQIA+
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NewsTranscript
00:00Why? Because our communities have been without education for many years
00:06So now they want to access 1% reservation
00:09But they need some technical skills, some coaching
00:12The document is providing that
00:20My name is Nisha Godur
00:22I was born in a village called Godur
00:25I came to Bengaluru about 20 years ago
00:302013 Feb 1st, Sangama joined
00:34Sangama was established in 1999
00:37and registered in 2001
00:40Initially, Sangama started for mobilizing working class transgender communities
00:47across Bengaluru
00:49Initially, the Sangama team started
00:54Those people started the documentation
00:57Newspaper clippings, set up the library
01:01Simultaneously, they mobilized community people
01:05Polar identified themselves as Ekijidars
01:08Working class community people
01:10Because working class communities, gender and sexual minorities
01:15are facing more than upper class and middle class community people
01:20Because they don't know English, they do sex work, they do baking
01:25They were not aware about their gender, sex and sexuality also
01:31So, in 2001, when ETHARA was established
01:35What happened in Sangama?
01:38Get-togethers were held
01:40Sunday meetings were held
01:42So, every Sunday, gender and sexual minorities used to come together to the office
01:48and they have fun, play, singing, dancing
01:53Slowly, the Sangama team has educated our community people about
01:57sex, gender, sexuality, who we are
02:00Public is saying to us in a vulgar language
02:04They identify us in a vulgar language
02:07But, we don't know who we are
02:10So, we educate that
02:12What is gender?
02:14What is trans?
02:16What is gender trans?
02:18What is sex trans?
02:20What is transsexual?
02:22So, if we don't spread awareness
02:24Our communities go to the main stakeholders
02:27Media, policy makers, government stakeholders
02:30We educate them
02:32We don't know what society is
02:35So, we are transgenders
02:37We have equal rights like you
02:39So, by understanding that
02:42The main change is self-confidence
02:46Working class communities don't have confidence
02:48Since 2000-2001
02:50We don't have confidence
02:52Because we left our families
02:54We left our education institutions
02:56We lost our education
02:58We lost our job opportunities
03:00So, how can we sustain for bread and butter?
03:04So, obviously, we were doing sex work and waiting for bread and butter
03:08So, once we got confidence
03:10So, we thought we can do something
03:13For our community and the society
03:15So, Sangamma's soul is social change
03:18So, that happened in the initial stages
03:21So, we started doing projects
03:24Because many trans persons did sex work
03:28They were more engaged in sex work
03:31There were HIV infections
03:33So, we started HIV prevention projects
03:38So, we implemented that
03:40So, Sangamma's soul is social change advocacy
03:45So, we didn't just do service-based work
03:49We started a community-based organization called SAMARA
03:53So, we targeted intervention projects
03:58We handed them over to SAMARA
04:00So, they took over
04:05So, in 2006-07
04:07Female sex workers also faced similar problems
04:11Even then, we didn't reach the working class female sex workers
04:16Because upper class sex workers
04:19They have English access
04:21They have internet
04:23They are financially settled
04:25So, we didn't reach the upper class gay and lesbian
04:28We didn't reach the upper class sex workers
04:32So, we didn't reach the working class female sex workers
04:36Even then, Sangamma's soul is society
04:40So, we have FCRA
04:44We can't do too much
04:46So, for advocacy, for activism
04:49We formed two collectives
04:51One is Karnataka Sexual Minority School
04:54For GSM rights
04:56Karnataka Sex Workers Union
04:58For female sex workers rights
05:00Then we thought many community people were
05:04Peer HIV's, people living with HIV
05:07So, we formed one collective called SADHANE
05:10So, who all are affected to HIV
05:12They are GSM or female sex workers
05:15So, we formed one SADHANE collective
05:18For peer HIV's issues
05:20Address the issues of HIV positive
05:22Nutrition supplement, TRT tablets
05:25So, like that
05:27So, later on
05:29Karnataka Sexual Minority Forum, SAMARA
05:33They got independent
05:35They have a governing body
05:37They are taking projects from the government
05:39They are doing successful work
05:41So, Sangamma is growing
05:43Still, we are nurturing Karnataka Sex Workers Union
05:47And as of now
05:50We are in 22 districts of Karnataka
05:53For working class gender and sexual minorities
05:56Female sex workers and people living with HIV
05:59In 2000, we got a good opportunity
06:04From Ajinkya Religious Foundation
06:06To provide ration kits to slum people
06:10In the Corona time
06:12So, one extra
06:14One door was opened for us
06:17Day 1 to 2000
06:19We worked only for GSM
06:22Female sex workers and peer HIV
06:25But in 2000, we got a chance to work with
06:27Non-GSM and non-sex workers communities also
06:30In Bengaluru town
06:32We selected 10 wards
06:34And we are working with slum people
06:38For their rights
06:40Slum children
06:42Pre-learning schools
06:44We started pre-learning schools
06:46We are working for their land rights
06:48Water rights
06:50Sanitary rights
06:53Now, in 2010 to 2015
06:57We worked in Kerala also
06:5940 districts of Kerala
07:00So, Kerala government has invited us
07:02To do survey across Kerala
07:04For transgender survey
07:06And we only draft the transgender policy for Kerala
07:10So, that is the success of our Sangamma
07:13Sangamma, initially we worked in Tamil Nadu also
07:16So, as of now
07:18We stick to Karnataka only
07:20We work in 22 districts
07:22Including Kerala
07:24So, that is the background of Sangamma's work
07:27So, could you also shed some light on
07:30The organization's role in getting
07:33Horizontal reservation for the community
07:35Karnataka became the first state to do that in 2021
07:38So, what was Sangamma's fight?
07:40How did the organization work to get that?
07:44What Sangamma gave me was
07:48Respect to life of gender and sexual minorities
07:51Dignified life
07:53So, if we don't get dignified life
07:55I am not saying sex work is wrong
07:57Of course, sex work is also a work
07:59So, begging is also their choice
08:01So, but
08:02Dignified life is for those who don't want anything
08:05For those who don't have
08:07For those who don't have job opportunities
08:09From last 10 years
08:11One generation came up
08:132001, I came
08:152001 to Bengaluru
08:17My education was just SSL
08:19But from last 10 years
08:21Many trans persons emerged
08:23They passed 11th standard, 12th standard
08:25Degree
08:26So, Sangamma thought
08:28We need to fight for reservation
08:30So, not all states in the country
08:33So, 2001, Sangamma and myself
08:35Put a public inter-criticization in the high court
08:38So, reach law
08:40It's a legal entity
08:42So, reach law
08:46Public prosecutor
08:48Argue
08:50So, government
08:52Gave them 1% reservation
08:54Horizontal reservation
08:56That is very important
09:00But
09:01Of course, we welcome it
09:03We get a lot of help from communities
09:06But
09:07On the ground, some technical problems
09:09For example
09:11In police department, post-confirmation
09:131% means
09:15There is an opportunity to apply
09:17But they need some technical skills
09:19Running
09:21Body fitting
09:23Because our communities
09:25Have been without education for many years
09:27So, now
09:29They want to access 1% reservation
09:31But they need some technical skills
09:33Some coaching
09:35Government doesn't give that
09:37Because as an NGO
09:39We have some limitations also
09:41We can't do everything
09:43So, state has to take the responsibility
09:45To educate
09:47To develop the skills
09:51There should be coaching
09:53Only when that is done
09:55They will access it
09:57But, there is a Pooja in the country
09:59I mean
10:01In Madakeri
10:03As a gereja accountant
10:05They use 1% reservation
10:07To get a job
10:09But, it is different
10:11It is 4-5%
10:13But, our demand
10:15Is that 1% reservation exists
10:17But
10:19To access it
10:21There are technical problems
10:23We need to discuss with the NGO
10:25What are the technical problems
10:27We need to try to encounter
10:29So, there should be a coaching centre
10:31Or a skilling centre
10:33State has to take the responsibility
10:35To develop the skills
10:43Not yet
10:45But, we are demanding
11:05How has the implementation been
11:07In that sense?
11:09Thanks to Congress Government
11:11Before Election
11:13They called us for
11:15National Consultation for Manifesto
11:17We got invitation
11:19And we participated also
11:21So, we gave some recommendations
11:23Like 1% reservation across
11:25India
11:271, 2, 3, 4
11:29So, Election is also
11:31So,
11:33So,
11:35State Government
11:37Shakti schemes
11:39Many trans women
11:41Who got castration
11:43They are accessing the Shakti schemes
11:45In the bus
11:47Who identified themselves as transgender
11:49But, they didn't
11:51Get castration
11:53They didn't wear saree
11:55They are in the
11:57Male attire
11:59But, their gender is changed
12:01So,
12:03It is difficult for them to access
12:05So, it was a problem in Bedgaon
12:07Then,
12:09It was a problem in Ballar
12:11Then, our team
12:13Went to the bus depot
12:15To advocate
12:17Transgender car is there
12:19In the National Portal
12:21To show that
12:23You need to leave the bus
12:25Discrimination is happening
12:27In the bus
12:29Physical attire
12:31Male attire
12:33You have moustache
12:35How can you be transgender
12:37All co-passengers were insulted
12:39So, it should be reduced
12:41But, who all are wearing saree
12:43Who all are got castration
12:45They are accessing Shakti schemes
12:47In large scale
12:49And even Gruha Lakshmi scheme
12:51Gruha Lakshmi
12:53It was there before
12:55But, ration card is not there
12:57So, we did advocacy
12:59Many organizations also did advocacy
13:01So, what they did
13:03Transgender car should be there
13:05Without ration card
13:07Because, many of us are single
13:09So, there is no ration card
13:11So, now
13:13Transgender ID card should be there
13:15And apply to Gruha Lakshmi
13:17In Bedgaon
13:19Next month
13:21Next month
13:23Next day
13:45Actually, government job is problem
13:47To access
13:49They are making it a problem
13:51Madhugiri
13:53Madhugiri
13:55Their male attire
13:57Transgender ID card
13:59They apply
14:01So, they have to transgender
14:03They are there
14:05So, social change is happening
14:07Physical attire
14:09Female attire
14:11they are making a problem
14:13But, all transgender
14:15We are rescuing
14:17For example, there is no self-identification in the Nassar government.
14:21So, castration is not a mandatory.
14:23Dress code is not a mandatory for identification of a gender.
14:27But, if someone is a transgender, they don't have that much support.
14:34But, at the University of Mysore, one of our friends is studying.
14:39He is doing a PhD.
14:41Bangalore University also, I think.
14:43Yeah.
14:44And also, I think this time, for elections, the number of transgender voters was,
14:50I think, the highest it has ever been in Karnataka.
14:54So, does your organization also help if someone wants voter ID?
14:59Yes, of course.
15:00Across 22 districts, we are working for four components.
15:04For gender and sexual minorities.
15:06One is health, one is social data, voter ID, passport, everything.
15:11The third one is community organizing.
15:13Because community wants to organize, community has to organize for their rights.
15:18So, that is the third component.
15:20And the fourth component is savings and their livelihood.
15:23Because many trans persons and the gender and sexual minorities
15:27are not willing to relocate to Bangalore to find their livelihood.
15:30They want their livelihood, better livelihood in their own places.
15:34So, in this area, we are working for social protection schemes.
15:41So, of course, we focused on voter ID because that's our right.
15:46As a citizen, we need to vote.
15:49And what were some of the major demands this election from the new government?
15:54What were the major demands from the community?
15:57The MP election?
15:58Yes.
15:59So, across India, 1% reservation has to extend.
16:04That was our main demand.
16:07So, housing.
16:08Housing problem is there.
16:09Huge problem for whole-hour wearing saree,
16:13whole-hour identifying themselves as transsexual women.
16:16There is a huge housing problem.
16:19The housing is the second thing.
16:21And the nutrition supplement for PNH and GST.
16:25Transgenders.
16:26Because non-peer HIVs, how much they eat calories.
16:31So, HIV people has to take more calories.
16:34So, this is the top three demands.
16:37We have some more demands also.
16:39Right.
16:40Okay.
16:41And I wanted to understand this one thing.
16:43How important is horizontal reservation?
16:46Because I was reading where some courts had instead provided vertical
16:51and the fight was to get horizontal.
16:53So, how would horizontal reservation matter to you differently than vertical?
17:23So, overall, if you see, I mean, you are welcoming the reservation,
17:52welcoming the policies.
17:53But on ground, there is still a lot to overcome.
17:56Yes, some problem is there.
17:57State has to take the responsibility, the coaching, technical skills.