India’s most neglected community, the eunuchs, yesterday entered the quota controversy, demanding reservation in colleges (including medical and engineering institutions), schools and government.
There are currently no quotas for eunuchs in government or education as they do not belong to any particular caste.
The decision to seek quotas, similar to the ones for scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes, was taken at a national conference of eunuchs at Park Site, Vikhroli.
Around 5,000 eunuchs from across India — and around 25 from countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, Bangkok and Japan — are attending the conference, organised by the All Maharashtra Hijda Samaj Sena Sangh.
It began on Sunday and will end on May 22, after which the eunuchs plan to meet Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh to discuss reservation.
“We will meet the chief minister and also hire a high-profile lawyer to formulate our legal stand,†said Raju Shrivastav (39), founder of the All Maharashtra Hijda Samaj Sena Sangh.
“We are not bad people. When minorities and other castes get quotas, why can’t we? We vote and pay income-tax too,†said Salma Ansari (25), who works as a dancer in Mumbai.
Shila Peter (18), a eunuch from Pune, said, “Our demand is no less valid than that of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes. Why should we be denied quotas when they are getting it? After all we are a neglected section of society too.â€
“The government should give eunuchs reservation. In other countries, eunuchs are given equal rights,†said Kanmani Perumal (40), another eunuch. Kanmani has lived in Malaysia all her life, where she runs a cosmetic business.
VOICES
Why can’t they give us reservations when they reserve seats for minorities?
Shilpa Peter (18)
Pune
We earn our bread by working hard and want to contribute more. Reservations will uplift the entire community.
Sania Chaudhry (17)
Mumbai
We can lead better lives if we are given the benefits of reservation.
Devyani (32)
Singapore
mid-day