In India, Tamil Nadu leads the way in HIVÂ awareness and immunization. Now, the state government has set up a welfare board for transgenders -- the first of its kind in India.
The board, which will meet for the first time on May 26, has been given a seed fund of 50 lakh. The aspect that stands out is that six of the board members are transgenders, appointed from across Tamil Nadu. State social welfare minister will Chair the board.
AJ Hariharan is the founder of the Indian Community Welfare Organisation, a non-profit organisation working with sex workers in Chennai over the last 12 years.
"The first thing to do is to conduct a census. No one actually knows how many they are because of their nomadic habits. Then we have to study their living patterns and the power structure of their society. They have a Guru-Chela system of family," says Hariharan when asked about the purpose of the board.
"We have to work with their power structure. We must make them feel that we are there to help them, not improve them," he explains, adding that local units will be set up to deal with local grievances.
"There are many who hide the fact that they are transgenders and work in society. The board is thinking of ways to help them too," he says.
An enumeration during the annual
Coovagam festival will yield a higher count, feel officials.