Special Aadhaar Card camp for Transgender

Aadhaar card is a unique identifier that every citizen of India can avail which establishes his/her identity on the basis of demographic and biometrics – fingerprints and retina scans. Aadhaar number can also be linked to services like banking, mobile phone connections and other Government and Non-Government services. It is very convenient in use as it can be easily verified online and, therefore, lowers the risk of fake ID proofs.

Madurai Aravaigal Tai Vizhudhugal Trust (MATVT) is a community based organization (CBO) working in Madurai. It also manages a targeted intervention (TI) project for TG/MSM. It is supported by the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS).

MATVT board members comprise of Jamath leaders and TG/MSM members. “During our discussion meetings with the TGs we found that many of them were not having the Aadhaar cards. The TGs were facing many problems such as opening of bank accounts and access to many social welfare schemes,” says Ms. Diana Punithavathy, Program Manager, MATVT.

MATVT with the support of TSU TN & PY approached the CBO board members with this issue. It was suggested that a special Aadhaar card enrollment camp should be organized for the TGs.

In what is claimed to be the first of its kind in Madurai district, a special Aadhaar card enrollment camp was thus organized during July, 2015 with the support of Program Officer - TSU, MATVT TI and other board members of MATVT CBO.

Appreciating the initiative for the TGs in Madurai, Noori Ahmal, President of the Madurai District Transgender Welfare Association said, “Without proper identity card we have been struggling for a long time. We were not able to open bank accounts and were unable to seek assistance under welfare schemes. Aadhaar card will help us claim our rights[1].” Further she said, “We are people who were shunned by our families and are struggling to get recognized in society. This card has given us the confidence and a sense of pride as we are now considered as the citizens of India[2].”

On the first day of the camp the TI invited Mr. L. Subramanian IAS, District Collector, Madurai for special launch of the Aadhaar enrolment camp. Mr. L. Subramanian said, “It was an initiative to provide them the Aadhaar card in order to help them give access to Government schemes[3].”

It was also attended by 9 board members and 2 Jamath leaders of MATVT. The Madurai District Supervisor also attended this event. The event was covered in various newspapers such as “The Times of India” and “The New Sunday Express” in Madurai. Ms. Priya Babu, a social activist working in Madurai said, “We never used to get identity card easily. We have been fighting for identity. Electoral identity card, ration card, PAN card and Aadhaar card are not just identity card but a recognition of our identity in the society[4].”

“The TI project played a very crucial role in mobilizing the TG community members to attend this camp. Various discussion meetings were held with them to motivate them for attending the camp. A total of 119 people availed the Aadhaar card on the spot, out of which 77 were TGs and 42 were MSM. After the camp 43 HRGs received the Aadhaar card. Out of these 12 were TGs and 31 were MSM,” says Ms. Diana.

“MATVT chose its office as the venue for the Aadhaar card enrollment camp. This was a very wise thing to do as the office location is very near to the bus stand and railway station in the area. These areas are the focal points or hotspots for the TG/MSM to congregate. As a result of the venue there was a great participation in the Aadhaar card enrolment camp,” said Ms. Diana.