In a first, government survey recognises transgenders as third gender

After being counted as 'males' by the Indian Government's Census department for decades, the transgender community for the first time found mention in a survey report released by the National Crime Records Bureau. In its latest report the NCRB recorded the deaths and suicides of 122 members of the transgender community during the year 2014 making it the first time that the transgenders have been recognised as a separate category in an official survey undertaken by the ministry of home affairs.The development comes after Supreme Court's order in April last year that created the "third gender" status for transgenders.

Even though transgender activists maintained that the numbers might not be accurate, they believe that induction of a third category in a National level survey marks a new beginning. However, there were some who said that in India where there is very little awareness about the rights of transgenders, categorising the community for the first time in NCRB survey might not be the ideal start.

"It seems like a good step but for people to recognise us as a people with equal rights, we would have preferred other concrete steps instead of featuring in a survey about deaths. Our demands are legitimate like separate prison cells or hospital wards and the mechanism to meet such demands is very slow. For people who are at the suffering end, being recogised in a survey which records deaths means very little," said Rudrani, a Delhi based transgender activist.

According to the report, 106 transgenders were killed in accidents and 16 allegedly committed suicides. The highest number of deaths (41) were recorded in Uttar Pradesh (UP) followed by Jharkhand (20) and Maharashtra (13).Thirty people out of 106 were killed and 31 injured in road accidents. This included 17 deaths, 15 from UP alone. Another 12, including nine in Jharkhand, lost their lives in railway accidents. Eight transgenders suffered heart attack last year.

The data records deaths of sixteen transgenders who allegedly committed suicide with 6 deaths in followed by Tamil Nadu (4), Maharashtra (3), Karnataka (2) and Andhra Pradesh (1). Thirteen of the transgenders who allegedly committed suicide were in the age group of 18-30 and activists claims that the reasons behind the suicide may vary but social stigma tops the list.

The NCRB data shows illness as the cause for six suicides, including one who was suffering from AIDS/Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD).Two each cases were due to mental illness and prolonged illness while another committed suicide due to drug abuse.

"Another reason for suicide can be the lack of opportunities faced by the community be it in getting an education or jobs," said Rurani. The data provided by NCRB corroborated Rudrani to some extent. Out of the 16 people who allegedly committed suicide four were un-employed, two were self employed while profession of 10 others falls under "other professions". The economic status showed that 12 of them earned less than 1 lakh rupees.