Karnataka’s first transgender survey will be launched in Mysuru, Vijayapura districts

MYSURU: The district is gearing up for the first-ever survey of transgender people in Karnataka. The other district where a similar survey has been planned is Vijayapura.
Once the survey is complete, a clear number of their population will be known. In addition, information about their socio-economic status will be available for the government to formulate policies and schemes for the empowerment of the community.
As transgender community members are more familiar with the members, they will conduct this baseline survey.
According to Basavaraju B, Deputy Director, Department of Women and Child Welfare, Mysuru, the survey will take place for 45 days starting from March 10. It will be carried out at the taluk level by transgender members. “The survey will be carried out at the taluk level,” he explained.
New approach
Pranati Prakash, one of the leading voices of the transgender community in Mysuru who participated in the training programme on this baseline survey recently in Bengaluru, explained that the survey will be carried out by the transgender community members themselves.
She explained that the idea behind the survey is to find out the socio-economic, educational, and other living conditions of transgender people. "It will be done at taluk headquarters. Transgender people from nearby areas will join the survey on the prescribed date. Community members will be involved in this process,” she explained.
“Those who have migrated to metropolitan cities like Mumbai etc will be asked to attend the survey on the prescribed day,” she added.
From the Mysuru district, a total of 9 persons attended the training programme on conducting the survey. “After the survey, all transgender people will be issued identity cards. Thes cards will help them avail various government benefits,” said Pranati.
According to her, this baseline survey is expected to give a realistic picture of the community in the district. Transgender people are now united and revealing their identities, she said.