Click to play videoBangalore: As elections begin in the state, a group of transgenders and sex workers have alleged that the government is making it difficult for them to get voter ID cards.
“I have been living in Bangalore for the last 20 years, but I still don't have a voter ID card. When I apply for the card, they tell me which category do I add you in — man or woman?” transgender activist Sahana asks. “We also want to exercise our voting rights.”
The Election Commission says it's not gender that's preventing them from getting voter ID cards, but lack of proper documents.
“They say without address proof we can’t give you a voters ID. If I live in a place for 30 years, isn't that enough for address proof? Why do they not take action against officials who don't enroll hijras (eunuchs)?” human rights activist Elavarthi Manohar complains.
The Karnataka Sex Workers Union claims there are close to 1,000 sex workers and transgenders in Bangalore who haven't got voter cards.
The Election Commission, though it promised to process all their applications, has set a deadline for Thursday evening for the receipt of all documents.
“This group met us on April 16 — after three months time — and wanted their names to be included. We told them that if they can fill up the forms with all the relevant details by evening, we'd ensure, subject to fulfilling all the requirements, their names would be on the electoral roll,” Chief Electoral Officer and Ex-officio Principal Secretary to Government, D.P.A.R (Elections), M N Vidyashankar clarified.
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