New Delhi: In an attempt to create a broader platform and bring out the issues affecting the transgender community, India HIV/AIDS alliance organized the Third National Transgender “Hijra Habba” at the Eros International hotel in Delhi. The mega event saw over 800 transgenders participating from all over the country.
Apart from open heartedly welcoming the formal status of transgender as the third gender following the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment last year, the event also intended to address the factors that still prevent the community from accessing the welfare measures they are entitled to.

Speaking on the issue transgender Laxmi Narayan Said, “We transgenders have now got a status from the government which is wonderful but, what we need now is education and employment opportunities too.”

Held under the “Pehchaan” programme of the HIV/AIDS Alliance India, the event was attended by renowned bollywood choreographer Sandip Soparrkar, award winning director Onir and Indo American singer actress Monica Dogra.

Supporting the Hijra community Choreographer Sandip Soparrkar said, “I have been teaching dance to Hijra community for over a decade now, I personally believe that they are the true Ardhanarishwar, another form of Lord Natraj. They should be given equal opportunities like you and me.”

Several political leaders have also shown their solidarity to the transgender community by taking part in the event. Cabinet minister of social and justice empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot was present along with Parliamentary forum minister Oscar Fernandez, MP J D Salem, Rajyasabha MP Tiruchi Sivan.  Others who supported the cause were Swami Agnivesh, Nandini Kapoor from UN AIDS and US embassy member Kristi Desai.

More than 300 stakeholders from government, media, international agencies, transgender and hijra communities, and civil society came together at the event to promote social justice and empowerment for transgender and hijra communities in India.