Transgenders launch campaign for healthy society

Chennai, Jan 19: 'Aravanis' (transgenders) today launched a week-long awareness campaign for a healthy society and pledged to donate eyes.

The Aravanis, who carry a social stigma, gathered at the Voluntary Health Services (VHS) here on the occasion of ''Aravanigal Dinam'' (Transgenders Day) and kickstarted the awareness campaign across 14 districts in Tamil Nadu.

The campaign with the slogan ''Nalladoru Samudayatirku Nangalum'' (we, too, for a healthy society) is aimed at strengthening the Aravani community's efforts to integrate with mainstream society by contributing to humanitarian causes.

VHS Secretary, Dr N S Murali, while launching the campaign, affirmed the need for Aravanis to pro-actively reach out to the general community.

''You must demonstrate your ability to be socially responsive and serve the less fortunate,'' he said.

Ms Bharati Kannama, Community Advisor, called upon the Aravanis to rise above themselves and serve the needy. ''Over the last three years we have gained enough confidence not to depend on others and are far more cohesive as a community.

''We can do our bit to contribute to the larger good of society,'' she said.

Dr Lakshmi Bai, Project Director, urged the members of the community ''to search for answers to their problems from within by being compassionate to their peers. Only compassion can break the divide and help them overcome common problems such as stigma and discrimination,'' she said.

The event was marked by a short film ''TAI yin Kanmanigal'' to motivate the community on voluntary eye donation. A group of Aravanis presented a play ''Nallador Samudayathirku Naangalum''. Later, Aravanis visited the paediatric ward at the VHS Hospital where they interacted with children and prayed for their speedy recovery.

Kannagi from Salem declared that ''Aravannigal Dinam 2007'' will be observed in many meaningful ways through the week.

Several Aravanis will be pledging their eyes and over 20,000 saplings planted during the week long programmes.

Prayer meetings will be held by Aravanis in various district hospitals to extend spiritual and emotional support to families and children suffering from debilitating diseases. In the course of the week, the community is intending to plant 3,000 saplings in this city alone, she said.

The campaign would culminate here on January 24 with Aravanis making a collective representation to Tamil Nadu Minister for Social Welfare Dr Pangodhai urging the government to provide equal opportunities to them in employment besides helping them get access to ration cards as promised by the government.

UNI