Transpeople speak against their inclusion in the OBC category

According to the cabinet's decision, transpeople should be included in the OBC category for reservation.

By Anoushka Sawhney

Transpeople express their anger and protest against the centre’s move of including them in the OBC category for reservation. “We need a separate reservation for transgender,” said Jaya, a trans activist and general manager at Sahordaran, Chennai.

According to a Cabinet note moved by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, transgender persons would be included in the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) list for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.

The move is a follow-up to the “historic verdict” of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) judgement in 2014, which recognised transgender persons as the third gender. “The verdict also said that the transgender persons should be included in the OBC category,” said Jaya.

With this move, transgender persons will be competing with OBCs for 27% reservation in jobs and education.

While there has been a demand for a reservation for transgender persons, many are not happy with this move of the centre.

According to the 2011 census, the total population of transgender persons is around 4.88 Lakh. Jaya said that they are less in number and “it is easy to give a gender-based reservation”.

The government is taking some initiatives, but, Jaya said, “we need more and more schemes and support from the government”.

Jaya said that, after the meeting with transgender activists, supporters and organisations, we expect to have “1 or 2% reservation for the transgender community, transwomen and transmen”.

“If we are in SC/ST quota, we will compete with those people, and that would not be fair.”

In ‘The Suno India’ podcast, trans activist Grace Banu said, “We have Dalit trans persons, Bahujan trans persons, Muslim trans persons, tribal trans persons, indigenous trans persons. How do we access OBC category reservations? It is not at all social justice.”

Banu told The News Minute that this move of the BJP government is against reservation. “Reservation means the representation of oppressed castes. But, the government's move of shoving everyone under the OBC category is injustice.”

Many are advocating for horizontal reservation, which cuts across various categories, such as SC/ST/OBCs, to ensure a fair opportunity for all.

Jaya hopes that their expectations will be met soon.

Cover image credit: The News Minute