A public interest litigation petition has recently been filed in the Madras High Court demanding voter identity cards for the eunuch community in the State. Although there are no official estimates of India's eunuch population, they are said to number nearly 500,000 (as in 2000) (courtesy: - BBC News 6th March 2000 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/668042.stm). 

In Tamilnadu alone their population is estimated to be 1.5 Lakhs and they are mostly concentrated in southern districts of Tamilnadu. The majority of the remaining eunuch population lives in Mumbai. India's first eunuch has won an assembly seat in 2000 in Madhya Pradesh. Forty-year-old Shabnam Mausi won the by-election in Sohagpur as an independent. Four years back observers said that "the state of Madhya Pradesh appears to be taking a lead in getting eunuchs a more respectable place in a society where they are often feared or ridiculed". Following this remarkable event, five eunuchs were elected to various civic bodies including a mayor post. However, even today these sexual minority members are not able to open bank accounts or get ration cards. Because they are not able to get these documents which serve as residential proofs, they are not able to get the voter identity card also. These sexual minority members by and large do not live in permanent residences. This is due to the fact that as of today they are not accepted as the integral part of our society. If not having a permanent residence is an excuse for not providing them the voter identity card, we should be ashamed of the failure of our democratic system. 

The Election Commission must find an innovative mechanism whereby these eunuchs are given voter identity cards. Based on this they should get all other facilities in the society - be it ration card, bank account, medical assistance etc. Since the eunuchs can not manage any of the listed identity proofs to vote in the election, they can not participate in our democratic process. This is a black mark on our democracy. Even the politicians do not bother about garnering their support as they are less in number although they are concentrated in few pockets in few States. If the Election Commission can issue identity cards to them and enable them to vote, it would force our political system also to alleviate their sufferings and give them their due status in the society. This would pave the way for their upliftment. If those who perpetuate societal /sexual abrasions (rapists, thieves and criminals, perpetuators of domestic violence) can participate in our democracy, why can not the eunuchs who by birth or physiological aberrations become what they are, participate in our electoral process ? Providing an identity for each and every human being on this land must be the duty of our election commission. 

Traditional belief holds that the presence of eunuchs during auspicious functions protects against evil. However, we do not bother about their good. This author recently had an opportunity to closely interact with two of the Aravanis while undergoing the screening contest for the 'Arattai Arangam" show in Mumbai conducted by Mr. Visu. Those two neutral sex friends were forthright in asking for their rights and one of them was well-educated in computer operations. It is not true that all aravanis would like to walk on the roads and harass people by exhorting money. It is not that all aravanis are cheap minded and would like to involve in prohibited actions like exposing the genitals. Many of them have dreams to succeed in life and contribute to the society. They want to get educated and take up an employment to lead a decent and respectful living. Their aims, ambitions, and talents do not simply evaporate due to their physical/ sexual aberration. They are deprived of so many opportunities which is not justifiable and India can not shine if women in our society (women's oppression), eunuchs (sidelining eunuchs), and children reeling under the strain of poverty (child labour) are not uplifted and given their respectful status and due opportunities. 

The former Chief Election Commissioner, T.N. Seshan, issued a direction that identity cards must be issued to the Aravanis. But nothing happened. On Friday (5th March 2004), the Public Interest Litigation ( PIL) field by A. Rajini of the Southern Districts Women's Federation came up for hearing in the Madras High Court. The First Bench comprising the Chief Justice B. Subhashan Reddy and Justice P. Shanmugam asked the Government Pleader to get instructions from the authorities on the reported Election Commission guidelines with regard to grant of voter identity cards for the Aravanis. Even if there are any legal and practical hurdles, the Election Commission should come up with exemptions with regard to these Aravanis and provide them the voter identity cards. Followed by this, the governments should make sure that this voter identity card enables them to get the ration card. The Government of India should legislate/issue notification, whatever is appropriate and required, to the effect that eunuchs are given the status of physically handicapped (read as physically challenged) and they should be eligible for all benefits and privileges as applicable to the handicapped people. All citizens with sound mental state should be able to vote in India's elections. Noting should come in its way. We should take pride in nurturing 'true democracy' and not being the 'largest democracy'.

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