DC Releases Book on ‘Domestic and Sexual Violence, Claiming Voice, Rights, and Dignity’
Mangaluru: “Ondede”, an organization for transgenders, held a book release programme at the Eric Mathias Hall, St Aloysius College here, on July 13.
Member of ‘Ondede’, Sana welcomed the gathering and briefed on the activities of the organization. The book, “Domestic and Sexual Violence, Claiming Voice, Rights and Dignity”, was released by the Deputy Commissioner Sasikanth Senthil along with other dignitaries.
Speaking on the occasion, St Aloysius College Principal Dr Praveen Martis said, “Dr Akai Padmashali is our good friend and she used to come to St Joseph’s College Bengaluru to deliver speeches. The transgender community are our friends and we should respect them. Transgenders are also part of our society and community. Students in Mangaluru should always respect them and give them the space to live in the society. Transgenders are the most discriminated people and we should understand their pain and agony.”
Recalling an incident at St Joseph’s College Bengaluru, Dr Praveen Martis said, “When I was the principal, I had invited Akai Padmashali for a programme. Two Catholic students came to me and said that I should not invite transgenders to the campus and if I do so, they would leave the college and join another one. I was shocked to hear what they had said. I asked them to attend the programme before taking any decision. After attending the programme, they changed their minds. Everyone who is born into this world is a gift of God and should be treated equally. We need to respect everyone so that we can create a civilized society. I am very happy that there is a lot of research going on to bring awareness among the people about transgenders. They are part of our community and students who study here should learn to respect them. We are all human beings and we all belong to only one community, that is the human community. My support is always there for the transgenders.”
Sharing her experience, Secretary of Parivarthan Charitable Trust Sanjana said, “I came to Mangaluru 10 years ago and faced discrimination from my own community. My Guru was demanding Rs 6000 per month from me and used to get me thrashed if I failed to meet her demands. But after Parivarthan Charitable Trust was started, we got some relief. Violet Pereira, the founder of Parivarthan Charitable Trust, gave us a lot of moral support and saved us from a lot of harassment and stopped us from paying Rs 6000 to our leader. Through Parivarthan, we have been given training in Beautician and Tailoring courses. I am presently working as a beautician. Today, whatever I am, it is because of the help and support I received from Parivarthan Charitable Trust. There are some fake transgenders who indulge in pickpocketing and other illegal work for which some of us have been targetted and thrashed by the police. I urge the concerned authorities to take strict action against fake transgenders so that we are not discriminated and looked down by the society.”
Treasurer of Parivarthan Charitable Trust, Srinidhi shared her experience and said, “Earlier, we were not getting any respect in the society. When we had asked for a medical certificate at the Wenlock hospital, they had refused to give it. For three years, we were trying for the medical certificate without success. One day when we met Violet Pereira, we shared our grievances. She immediately took us to Dr Rajeshwari discussed the issue and we were able to get the medical certificates. Later, the Parivarthan Charitable Trust was started by Violet Pereira for the welfare of the transgender community and through the trust, we are getting various facilities.”
Speaking on the occasion, Akai Padmashali said, “Transgenders are the most neglected, most vulnerable, most marginalized and the most untouchable people. The issue of sex, gender, sexuality is unspoken in the society we are living in and we need to feel ashamed of it in the 21st century. As a sexual minority, I am proud to stand before you and talk about the concern of sexual minorities. Why, as a community, have we been neglected? Who is responsible? Who decides who is what? We need to discuss four particular areas – domestic violence, sexual violence, rights of sexuality and transgenders.”
Dr. Akai further said, “Nirbhaya was brutally raped and murdered in Delhi which is a shameful act. Sexual violence still exists in our country. Kokila, a sex worker, was also raped. Why are people killing innocents? What is sexuality and violence? Rulers cannot dictate about my sexuality and gender identity. What I say, the state should listen. That is the moral responsibility of the state. Transgenders are also the citizens of India and they have the right to lead their lives. Families do not accept us. We are facing domestic violence from our parents, spouses and our own community. Why is the Narendra Modi government silent on issues of sexuality agenda? The government should clarify its stand on IPC section 377. Why is the domestic violence act so rigid? We are also humans and we have sexual feelings. We have the right to lead a respectful life which has been given by our constitution. The Supreme Court should do justice to our fight and we hope to get justice.”
Speaking on the occasion, DC Sasikanth Senthil said, “Mangaluru is known as an intellectuals’ city. Today we are discussing the problems faced by transgenders in the society. We should understand their problems. In our country, there is no strict law for domestic violence. We have meetings of domestic violence but only a few cases are booked. When someone is physically abused, we go for a compromise. Our thoughts are to save the family but we do not try to understand the pain of the victim. Gender is a social concept. There is a male and female within each human being. I hope things will change soon and people will respect transgenders.”
Later, there was a face to face discussion during which Akai Padmashali and DC Sasikanth Senthil responded to various questions.