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LATEST NEWS UPDATES | First count of third gender in census: 4.9 lakh -Rema Nagarajan

First count of third gender in census: 4.9 lakh -Rema Nagarajan

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published Published on May 30, 2014   modified Modified on May 30, 2014
-The Times of India


There is finally an official count of the third gender in the country - 4.9 lakh. While transgender activists estimate the numbers to be six to seven times higher, they are thrilled that such a large number of people identified themselves as belonging to the third gender, despite the fact that the census counting happened well before the Supreme Court order gave legal recognition to the third gender in April this year.

Third Gender

Of the total number of transgenders identified by the census, almost 55,000 are in the 0-6 population. This has come as a big surprise to the community as they did not expect so many parents to identify their children as belonging to the third gender.

"After the disappointment of the election commission's efforts, this is fantastic news for the transgender community. We were extremely disappointed because during the voter registration process only 28,341 people registered as belonging to the third gender," said Kalki Subramaniam, transgender rights activist and founder of the Sahodari Foundation. She added that she was even more amazed that parents would come out and accept and identify their children as being transgender. Anjali Gopalan of Naz Foundation said that even the current figure of 4.9 lakh was on the lower side as it was unlikely that the number of people declaring themselves as transgender would ever give an accurate figure.

Over 66% of the population identified as third gender lived in rural areas, very close to the 69% of the overall population that lives in villages. The census data also revealed the low literacy level in the community, just 46%, compared to 74% literacy in the general population. "I am not surprised that the literacy rate is so low because it is not uncommon at all for people of transgender to drop out of school because of the harassment and discrimination they face," said Gopalan.

The highest proportion of the third gender population, about 28%, was identified in Uttar Pradesh followed by 9% in Andhra Pradesh, 8% each in Maharashtra and Bihar, over 6% in both Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal and well over 4% in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Odisha. Rajasthan accounted for over 3% of the total transgender population and Punjab for 2%.

The proportion of those working in the transgender community is also low (38%) compared to 46% in the general population. Only 65% of the total working population are main workers - those who find work for more than six months in the year - compared to 75% in the general population.

"This is a beginning and we are proud that the census could draw out part of the truth and establish that the transgender community exists and that their literacy rate is very low. They have also established that transgender children exist. It is now up to the government to bring in policy to ensure that they are not discriminated against and that they enjoy equal rights like any other children," said Kalki.


The Times of India, 30 May, 2014, http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/First-count-of-third-gender-in-census-4-9-lakh/articleshow/35741613.cms


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