Of 49 lakh voters in HP, only 12 are transgender

SHIMLA: For a state that is the third in the country to start a Rs 1,000 per month social security pensions for its 2,500-odd registered transgender population, Himachal Pradesh’s voter list tells a different story. Of 49 lakh registered voters on the electoral roll published on September 15, there are only 12 transgenders. The number of Non-Resident Indian (NRI) voters is just four. There are 24.98 lakh male voters with women vote strength at 24.07 lakh. The dates for elections to the state assembly are not announced, but the expectation is that of pools being held in December. The term of the assembly ends on January 7, 2018.

NO OFFICIAL RECORD OF TRANSGENDERS

There is no official record of the transgender population in the state, but based on experience and anecdotal evidence, state government officials peg it anywhere between 2,000 and 3,000. Yet, the state’s department of social justice and minority affairs has set a target of disbursing social security pension to at least 200 transgenders in 2007-18 that ends on March 31, 2018.

There is no clarity on how many have been given thesocial security as of now, even as Tamil Nadu and Orissa are the only two other states offering this scheme.

The government claims the huge mismatch between what it believes on the number of transgenders and what the electoral roll shows is a problem related to identity.

“There is also a social stigma attached andmost transgenders do not want to reveal their identity ,” said a government official .“In Him ac hal, trans genders are scattered in every constituency but their presence is more in areas bordering Punjab and Haryana,” said Dr Sandeep Bhatnagar, director, social welfare and minority affairs department.

“The process of preparation for the last part of the state’ selectoral roll( services) is on. We have received only 63,200 forms so far ,” Pushpendra Rajput, HP chief electoral officer told HT.