The West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights recently conducted a poll on the plight of transgender children living in rural areas, and the results revealed what they did. The survey, which looked at 1,500 people between the ages of 14 and 18, in Calcutta, the North and South 24 Parganas, Howrah, and Murshidabad, found that 73.6% of transgender-identifying minors did not feel safe at home and that 20% of gender non-conforming teenagers experienced discrimination from family members.
Source: The Wire
This discomfort also permeates educational institutions; over 62.5% of respondents reported feeling uneasy at school, with many of them having reservations about using the restrooms. Hospitals and clinics, places that heteronormative residents take for granted, naturally present problems as well. According to the report, transgender teenagers are suffering from severe mental health issues as a result of this ongoing unease and worry; some are even considering suicide.
These results are in line with numbers from around the world. For instance, the 2021 Trevor Project survey discovered that transgender people are 2.4 times more prone to anxiety and depression than the general population. According to a different study, transgender youth had a suicide attempt rate that was 7.6 times higher than that of their cisgender classmates.
Source: Banega Swasth India
Another issue is the underreporting of the difficulties transgender people encounter. The apparent remedy is to eliminate ingrained biases. But given how hostile the atmosphere seems to be at home and at school, this is a monumental task. Is there a rationale for expanding anti-ragging laws to punish sexual identity discrimination in schools? Also, families need to work on teaching their children how to be sensitive.
Progressive and gender-inclusive elements were promised in the National Education Policy, 2020. Regrettably, the idea of gender is still restricted to binary categories, leaving flexible identities out. The current situation calls for a rights-based approach that acknowledges the necessity for society and institutions to safeguard the fundamental rights of all individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation.
What do you think about this? Comment below.
