Transgender becomes Bar Council member

The 38-year-old resident of Thoothukudi Town said, “It was a red-letter day in my life and I am indebted to Kuruvaiah, former Chairman of District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), who was instrumental in inducting me as the first member in the DLSA under the transgender category in 2012. It motivated me largely to take up law at Andhra University.”

Viji, who also runs a trust named ‘Anbu’ in Thoothukudi, expressed desire to pursue post graduate’s degree in law. Moreover, Viji said she wants to take up cases for free of cost and argue them in the court of law in the interest of plaintiff.

“I’m not sure whether the society cares for transgenders and respects them without any discrimination, but we (transgenders) have love for the society. Though transgender was categorised as the third gender, they should enjoy equal rights as others,” Viji, who is more interested in dealing with criminal cases, told DT Next.

Transgenders are being subjected to sexual harassment at public place and this must end. Once the transgenders take hold of respectable job positions in the society, such incidents will come to an end, Viji said.

The transgenders would be motivated to educate themselves to attain high positions in the society, she added. Further, Viji demanded the authorities to identify transgender dropouts from schools and provide them with proper education.