Now, transgenders to be included in railway statistics

Mumbai: The Government Railway Police (GRP) has started a new website, displaying figures of the number of men, women and transgenders who have fallen victim to railway accidents. This is the first time that transgenders have been included in the GRP administration statistics.

According to GRP officers, they have been asked from their superiors to compile the list in three categories, male, female and transgender. The total number of accidents that took place from January 2012 till date is 4172, out of which seven are involving transgender. Out of 2007 deaths that took place this year, six were transgender.

A GRP official explained that many accidents involving transgender had taken place on railway tracks, but the GRP was confused about which gender category to list them under. “It is not that we ignored transgender, but there was no separate section to include their names,” said the official.

The GRP website will now display the number of men, women and transgenders who were victims of railway accidents.

Details on website

Prabhat Kumar, commissioner of police (GRP), said, “We are putting the details of accident victims on the website to maintain records electronically. We are also updating the statistics of transgender who have met with accidents.”

Move appreciated

Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, transgender rights activist said, “This is a very good step by the GRP administration, and that they are finally recognizing us and making some documentation is appreciated. However, they should call us transgender and not eunuchs. The word eunuch is derogatory.”

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