Odisha: Transgender community stages protest, seeks 5% reservation in polls

ANI photo

Bhubaneswar: The transgender community, associated with a trust in Bhubaneswar, staged a protest outside the Election Commission office on Tuesday demanding five percent reserved seats in elections .

They also submitted a memorandum, which stated their demand for reservation.

Speaking to ANI, community leader, Radha said, "Have been demanding this for a long time, but nothing has happened yet. We should be given same rights as transgenders in other states".

The transgender community has earlier too staged a protest in demand for their right.

On September 22, 2016, hundreds of transgenders staged a protest at Valluvar Kottam, demanding amendments to the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016.

The community wanted the Bill to be amended to ensure the self-determination of trans identity for reservation in education and employment, and also for the clause that penalises enticing or compelling transgenders to beg be removed.

They wanted a national-level board with two transgender representatives to make decisions about their rights, education, employment and health.