Survey for gender minorities to now take place in government offices too

Following concerns from the transgender and intersex community members of the State, the Karnataka government has decided to expand the enrolment centres for the ongoing survey for gender minorities. Apart from government hospitals, the community members will now have the option to register themselves at nearby government offices. 

As per a government circular The Hindu has seen, the survey would also be hereafter held in the offices of the DWCD (Directorate of Women and Child Development) deputy directors at the district level, the offices of Child Development Project Officer at the taluk level and at the nearest government offices in areas where a large number of gender minority communities reside. 

Heeding to concerns

The decision was taken after several people raised concerns about going to hospitals for the survey. Many complained that the hospitals were far from the clusters they lived in. The journey to the hospital, combined with the survey which takes about 45 minutes for completion, will result in loss of daily income, they said.  

Initial rumours that the participants would be stripped and subjected to physical examination at the hospitals also prevented people from turning up for the survey. Despite clarifications being issued that no medical examination would be conducted, the turnout numbers have remained low in Bengaluru.  

In this context a review meeting was held on September 21 and the decision to extend the survey centres to other government offices was taken. 

Optimistic about numbers

“The survey has been going well in other districts. There has been some resistance in Bengaluru though. But now, apart from hospitals, the survey will also be held at DD offices, CDPO offices and other government offices in localities where the communities have been reluctant to come to hospitals. Hopefully, the numbers will pick up now,” said Mahesh Babu, Managing Director, Karnataka State Women’s Development Corporation. As per official sources, the overall enrolment number in Karnataka is now close to 6,000.