INTRODUCTION

Counting to about 4.8 lakhs in 2011 census , the most visibly invisible and marginalized
section of the society is the transgender group. Transgender is an umbrella term for persons
whose gender identity does not match with his/her physical sex. Hijra is a South Asian term
used for males who have physiological feminine gender identity. Transgender people may
identify as heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, pansexual, polysexual, or asexual. It does not
apply to any particular form of sexual orientation. As per Wikipedia, transgender means:

"Of, relating to, or designating a person whose identity does not conform unambiguously to
conventional notions of male or female gender roles, but combines or moves between these."
"People who were assigned a sex, usually at birth and based on their genitals, but who feel that
this is a false or incomplete description of themselves."
"Non-identification with, or non-presentation as, the sex (and assumed gender) one was
assigned at birth.”

Hijras are the males who have feminine gender identity, according to the South Asian culture.
They adopt feminine gender roles and appear in women's clothing. The hijras include intersex
people as well. As the Hijras are not classified under males or females, theyhave been lobbying
for recognition for themselves as a 'third sex or gender'. Hijra’s were once a revered and accepted
group in Indian culture. The Vedas, ancient Hindu texts, include eunuchs and characters with both
male and female characteristics. They were believed to bring luck and provide special fertility
powers. During the Mughal period, eunuchs played an important role in the court administration
as royal guards. For centuries, they have performed badhai, or blessings at weddings and births.
Their sanctioned place in Indian culture changed during the British colonial period. Introduced in
1860 and not abolished until 2009, section 377 of the Indian Penal Code outlawed “carnal
intercourse against the order of nature.” Also that year, the Election Commission allowed “other”
gender identification. Respected by the Mughals, but considered criminals by British colonies but
today many [Hijra’s] live as sex workers and beggars.Ostracized by loved ones and harassed
constantly by police, Hijra’s instead form small groups for their protection. These groups are led
by a “guru” or mother figure. At their best, the groups can be supportive, nurturing and family-
like. Out of a necessity to protect themselves, Hijras have even developed their own language —
a mixture of Hindi, Farsi, Urdu and a little Arabic. Most Hijras are uneducated and, combined with
the discrimination they face; gaining mainstream employment is made almost
impossible..Maximum number of eunuchs are found in Uttar Pradesh state of India with
around 5% of the total percentage of state population.Number of them found in Andhra Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, Rajasthan and Delhi are5%, 11.0%, 6.0%, 6.5%, 4.5% and 2.0% of
the total percentage of state population respectively.Among several hideous measures that they
resort to in order to earn money, many of them start working as sex workers which in turn has its
own implications. For example, HIV rates are very high among the Hijra community. Statistics
vary between 50 and 80 %.The 2014 NALSA vs UNION OF INDIA AND OTHERS case brought
about a relief to them by granting all fundamental rights as equally applicable to them as well as
they are to other citizens of the country. They got their right to self-identification. The court
directed the state and central government to grant legal recognition of gender identity ,i.e the legal
recognition of THIRD GENDER and of persons transitioning within male female binary. The
psychological test was more important than the biological test and that the sex reassignment
surgery (SRS) as a condition for one’s gender identity is illegal .The government in the centre and
state would further make provisions for better health and sanitation facilities and would also make
extra efforts to grant them all social and economic rights along with other efforts to help them
combat stigma and generate public awareness. Yet a lot is left to done to actually get them through
all the struggles so that they could avail themselves of all the government schemes and programs.
The Transgender indeed are the integral part of our community but also the most neglected one
although it’s just a biological phenomenon which brings change in the human body. Yet the stigma
is far more terrible and disturbing.

REVIEW OF LITERATURE
Various studies have beendone to analyse the different dimensions of the problems that these
people face.

BEING A KOTHI: AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERROGATION WITH A MALE

TRANSGENDER IN KOLKATA , INDIA is one such study where a close interaction was
made with a transgender named BABULso as to make a deeper probe into the life and struggles
of these people. The researcher has very vividly put forward the experiences of BABUL where
he narrates his haunting memories of sexual abuse and his condition of having no choice other
than becoming a sex worker. His desire to have a job, education and a partner but the
conditions of the society that are applied to them obstruct him to make a life of his own where
he can still be part of his family despite having freedom of identifying his preferred gender and
sex orientation choices.

Another study named, REPRESENTATION OF HIJRA: NEED FOR SOCIAL WORK

INTERVENTION studies the social exclusion these people face and brings about social
recognition in various media projections,TV shows, and movies. It focuses on SYMBOLIC
ANNIHILATION which refers to the absence of representation in the media .In this context,
it is described how the hijras are often ignored by the mainstream television genre due to their
vulnerability (emotional, social and physical) in Indian culture which is embedded in the very
processes of performing gender and sexual identity in and against the “local heterosexist,
homophobic and hetero-normative local society. Where in a country like India, public
discussion of sexuality is reticent because sexuality in any form is rarely discussed openly , the
portrayal of the hijras represents ambivalence. On one hand, the hijras have always been
secluded from the mainstream, which is also the male-stream heteronormative society. On the
other hand, the mainstream “gendered” popular culture needs its opposite - the hijra minority
to stabilize its existence. The result is the hijra characters in films being portrayed as a marker
for deviance or criminality. These characters merely reflect abnormal or antisocial behaviour,
and in the process these become objects of abhorrent disgust or comedy thereby affirming
heterosexuality as normal.

A study, AN ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF HIJRAS: A STUDY OF

PASCHIM MEDINIPUR DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL was conducted where about 114
Hijras served as the respondents. The study shows that obesity constituted major health
problems whereas the nutritional status among the Hijras is very poor with a high rate of
nutritional risks. The older portion among them was experiencing the highest prevalence of
nutritional stress respectively. Nutritional status was found to be positively related to their
education, occupation, and standard of living. The results also revealed that the Hijras are not
considered as a part of the society. Thus they are underprivileged and lack the basic
infrastructure to lead a happy living in our society. In brief, the Hijra community remains
unaware of the psychological interventions and services potentially available to aid in the
management of their nutritional and mental health needs.

Another study, LET US LIVE: SOCIAL EXCLUSION OF HIJRA COMMUNITY discusses

the social, economic , legal and health problems in KHARAGPUR , WEST BENGAL. The
data generated through interaction with 51 hijras brings about the assault that is inflicted on
them by the police and other government officials . The harassment , exclusion from holding
property, adoption rights, unlawful penalties, sexual and mental abuse, violence and
deprivation centred around the apathy of the society ,lack of housing facilities and social
participation etc. The study revealed no safe socio-political space where a Hijra can lead a life
of a human being with dignity. There is less space for Hijras in socio-cultural, economical and
political spheres; they are unable to get proper benefits from conservative social structures and
institutions. They are incapable to use power or to enjoy citizenship rights at their homes or in
society. Socio-cultural, legal, educational and health services are extremely constrained for a
person with a Hijra identity. The overall findings signify that most deprivations in the lives of
Hijra are grounded in non-recognition of a Hijra as a separate gendered human being beyond
the male-female dichotomy. This has prevented them from positioning themselves in the
greater society with human potential and dignity. Thus, Hijra are extremely excluded,
particularly because of moralistic standpoints regarding gender and sexualities of the
mainstream society where diversity is synonymous with deviation and deprivation.
 While many studies have attempted to thoroughly study the innumerable problems that these
people face , they lack the perception of the hijras themselves as to what is the most disturbing
problem they face, hence prioritising their wants and solutions to their struggles. Further
nothing has been discussed about the percolation of the benefits brought out to them by the
government or other organisations. The analysis of their participation in social and political
activities too should be considered integral . Hence, this study would try to throw light on these
issues and thus bring about the struggles, painful conditions, success and change amongst these
people in the study area.

OBJECTIVES
• To study their daily life problems like housing security, ration card, lack of education and
medical help.
• To study their perception of the various programs, in function for their welfare.
• To analyse the percolation of the government schemes in the study area.
• To study how the welfare schemes by the government and non- government organisations
helped in the capacity building amongst them.

DATA SOURCES AND METHODOLOGY

An explanatory cum descriptive research design with a non– probability purposive sampling
including the snowball technique may be adopted to collect data from the Hijras after they have
given their oral consent for the interview. Primary as well as secondary data would be collected so
that appropriate and ample information could be gathered to ensure the authenticity of the study.
They are located in a scattered manner in PATNA , so respondents from every location would be
requested to be the part of the study so that those in both, rural and urban area could be studied.
Since few are known to me, the snowball technique would be of great help to provide the required
number of respondents. Interview schedule would be brought into use to fetch primary data. Open
and close ended questions would be included keeping in mind to avoid any kind of ambiguous and
emotionally hurting questions.

Data would be collected concerning education and economic development , housing security,
financial security, food security , health , nutrition and medical assistance.Various NGOs working
for these people may also be mentioned and data would be fetched from them as well if need be .
Qualitative as well as quantitative data would be generated to make better conclusions.

CONCLUSION
This study would provide ample insights into the problems and the experiences of these people. It
would bring about the condition of this very much neglected section of the society in a place like
BIHAR which is already lagging behind all average development indicators in the country. The
life experiences ofthese people would not be a data for this study alone, but it would be an attempt
to draw the attention of the government as well , towards them and hence would serve to generate
awareness amongst these people as well as in the society .

References
• Dey, s. “” BEING A KOTHI :AN ETHNOGRAPHIC INTERROGATION WITH A
MALE TRANSGENDER IN KOLKATA , IOSR JOURNAL OF HUMANITIES AND
SOCIAL SCIENCES , (IOSR-JHSS) ,Volume 11, Issue 6 (May. - Jun. 2013), PP 51-62 .
• Mal,s. , '’Let Us to Live: Social Exclusion of HijraCommunity'' , Asian Journal of Research
in Social Sciences and Humanities ,Vol. 5, No. 4, April 2015, pp. 108-117.
• Ghosh,B, '’ REPRESENTATION OF HIJRA: NEED FOR SOCIAL WORK
INTERVENTION , Journal of Social Work and Social Development 8 (1 & 2) 2017
• Das, Parthasarathi and Mal,s , ‘’AN ASSESSMENT OF NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF
HIJRAS: A STUDY OF PASCHIM MEDINIPUR DISTRICT, WEST BENGAL.
• Goel N , '’ UPTAKE OF SOCIAL PROTECTION SCHEMES BY
TRANSGENDERPOPULATION IN INDIA'’ , NACO report
• Hotchandini,K., '’ PROBLEM OF TRANSGENDER IN INDIA: A STUDY FROM
SOCIAL EXCLUSION TO SOCIAL INCLUSION'' , International research journal of
humanities and social sciences. Vol 4 , issue 4
• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/LGBT_rights_in_India
• Karunanithi, G. '’ TRANSGENDER AND MAINSTREAM'’ , Economic and political
weekly, vol58
• Baset, Z. Supreme Court Judgment against Section 377The Tasks Ahead , Economic and
political weekly, vol 39
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
Every now and then we come across various issues, problems and experiences. A lay man may
perceive it to be a common thing and deal with it but a student is always keen to analyse it,
understand the various dimensions, see the black and white side of it without being biased. I have
lived my student life on this principle and this makes me to be more interested in research work ,
hence PhD. The knowledge that I have been fortunate enough to gain in my subject ,
SOCIOLOGY, during my graduation and post graduation period makes me more aware of various
problems creeping in and persisting in the society. Not only has it broadened the horizon of
knowledge for me but has helped to have a different eye to and perception about the happenings
around. A PhD is all about patience, perseverance and broadened perceptions. And a dissertation
work during my masters was a boon as it not only gave me an exposure to methodology and some
field work but also enriched my patience to deal with various obstructions that may come my way
in the research work .I am also passionate enough about the subject as well as my area of interest
i.e THE RIGHTS AND PROBLEMS OF THE HIJRA COMMUNITY and I feel that not enough
attention has been paid to the question. I’ve been interested in this topic for quite a while. This
lead to my choice and I am excited to take up a full- fledged journey to address, study, analyse and
explore this and do some quality sustained research work in this area as a PhD student. A proper
approach to the problem can be made to analyse it with a balance of proper methodology ,
technique , guidance and patience. Hence, I feel myself to be very much apt for all the hard work
that PhD would bring along with considerable success and strength .A research program is a
herculean task to take up and it can never be successful without proper guidance and infrastructure
facilities and I am eager to take advantage of the facilities and expertise that this prestigious
institution has to offer. But I also want to contribute with my own expertise and enthusiasm. I’ll
be proud to be a part of this prestigious institution and would actively seek to represent it through
my own publications and other research outputs as this place would provide me with new
opportunities to interact with more knowledgeable people and help me have a free mind with
divergent ideas by giving me ample exposure and enriching my critical thinking skills. A
combination of my skills aided by the guidance of my supervisor would help me do some quality
research work on this interest area. I’m really interested in communicating my research to a wider
audience and I think the training provided during the course work will be of great help to me, both
academically and more generally. The rigorous and needful course work would help me realise
and fill the gap between what I have known and what I should know . The guidance from the
faculty members will also help me manage the weight of information my PhD research needs to
cover and the challenge of producing an effective thesis. I would be fortunate enough if ever I get
a chance to enhance my academic knowledge and skills in this prestigious institution.