Choice of identity is one of the biggest positives of the new transgender ID issued by the State government on Thursday.
After two earlier attempts to hand over these cards ran into opposition from the community itself, the latest ID card has assuaged the ruffled feathers and made the recipients happy.
“Instead of ‘Sex: Transgender’ category in the earlier card that drew a lot of flak, this one allows us to identify with any gender that we want – male, female, or transgender. Moreover, it mentions ‘Government of Kerala’ and comes with the Social Justice Department’s logo,” says Sreekutty Namitha, president of the Sexual and Gender Minorities Federation Kerala.
This, she says, is especially helpful when transgenders travel on a train or bus to other States and the ID card identifies them as belonging to Kerala and possessing a proof of their identity.
Niya Kukku is happy that the card comes with a hologram and has the department logo, which has been a long-standing demand of the community. “The cards we possessed earlier was viewed with a degree of suspicion, but we can show this to anyone without any apprehension. It also mentions our other details such as Aadhaar, PAN card numbers, blood group, and so on.”
Sreelachu says the card is a recognition of their identity by the State government. “It ensures that we have the same rights as people of any other sex. We can use it for all purposes.”
Elaborate process
Shyama S. Prabha, Project Officer, Transgender Cell, says a lot of thought has gone into designing the card. The entire process is online. After verification by the cell, screening is held by the District Social Justice Officer and the application returned to the cell for the Social Justice Director’s approval.
After sanctioning, it is sent to C-DIT for printing. After the handing over of the first phase of cards to 150 transgenders, the remaining will be handed over to the district offices for distribution.
Sreekutty says the government has announced financial aid under various initiatives, but the community’s demand for shelter homes and short-stay homes for those who have undergone sex reassignment surgery is yet to be realised. “The government should act to set these up before the financial year ends so that the project do not get delayed further.”