New Delhi: The coronavirus epidemic has affected almost all people. The Kinnar(transgender) community also remained untouched by its impact. Most members of this community live by begging or dancing to weddings and other ceremonies, but the lockdown caused by the epidemic put an end to it all. Kinnar Sonali could barely cope with begging at the traffic signal of Mayur Vihar in East Delhi before the lockdown in late March. She was eagerly waiting for the lockdown to end, but when the unlocked one started, there was no difference. Unlock-1 not only had less traffic on the roads, but people are not even wanting to lower the glasses of their cars for begging. He said, “Nobody wants to give us money. People are not ready to listen to what we have to say even under the mirror of their car. “
Like Sonali, many other members of the Kinnar community have been badly affected by the epidemic. According to Kinnar Rights groups, the eunuch population in India is estimated at 4.88 lakh. The means of livelihood of this community are begging, dancing at weddings and other ceremonies. Some also become sexual workers. The other eunuch, 38-year-old Ritupari (name changed) danced at weddings and other ceremonies. He says that in the new situation there is no place for people like him. He said, “People are not inviting their close relatives to weddings and other events, so why would they call us.” If we go somewhere, we look at us with inferiority and drive us away. “
Chandni (name changed) used to beg in trains. She has gone into depression after losing her means of livelihood. 42-year-old Chandni is suffering from severe diabetes. His brother said that his vivacious sister has stopped speaking and almost never gets out of the house. Kinnar and rights activist Ayesha Behera, who lives in Odisha, said community members are at greater risk of getting infected with Covid-19. He said, “They mostly live in slums, where there is nothing like keeping distance from each other.” About 10-15 of them live in the same room. ” Behera said that he is trying an alternative means of livelihood for the eunuchs.
He said, “We have recently joined hands with some self-help groups and taught some members of the Kinnar community how to make sanitizer and phenyl. We also plan to train them to make perfumes. Pushpa Mai, another eunuch rights activist, claimed that domestic violence against many members of the community has increased due to the loss of livelihood. Mai, who lives in Jaipur, said, “Many families depend on the earnings of Kinnar members. Now they are unable to earn. Domestic violence has increased against many of them. In some cases Kinnar’s partners fight him. ” He said, “We are providing ration etc. but it is not enough.” The government gave him 1500 rupees in April but how long will it last. ” The nonprofit Center for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) has called for an emergency response to the community to overcome the effects of the epidemic.
