Poor living conditions, lack of stable employment, and difficulties in availing of benefits under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme – which, under the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government, is being restructured – continue to affect several transgender women living in south Chennai, particularly Kannagi Nagar and Ezhil Nagar.
Durgasri, a member of the Thirunangai Vizhigal Amaippu in Kannagi Nagar, said many trans women were availing of the Magalir Urimai Thogai in Chennai, but nearly 4,000 in the city continued to face hurdles in enrolling despite repeatedly petitioning officials. She is among several trans women residing in housing units under the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) in Ezhil Nagar, behind the Kannagi Nagar tenements.
She, along with Maya Sri, Sneha, Vaishnavi, Kalaivani, and Maha Sri, alleged that issues of alcoholism and substance abuse were rampant in the tenements allocated to them. Pointing to missing bulbs and damaged electric boards, the residents said theft also remained a major concern in the locality.
Trans women who reside in Ezhil Nagar complain of poor facilities | Photo Credit: R. Aishwaryaa
Hazardous living environment
“Many steal personal belongings, pipes, and electric boards, and break windows and doors. We are forced to live elsewhere until we can resettle after instances of theft. Meanwhile, unknown persons defecate inside these empty houses. We are expected to clean up this mess ourselves. How is this possible? How can we live in such conditions? We need better housing and security,” said Ajitha Sri.
The residents also pointed to open manholes, street dogs, and stray cattle in the locality. “Renovations are done only on the exterior. Walls continue to peel, and broken windows are common. If we point that out, we are asked to repair it ourselves,” they alleged.
They further alleged that the micro canal running through the locality remained heavily polluted due to open dumping.
Residents said people living in nearby Secretariat Colony had earlier petitioned officials regarding these issues, but no action had been taken. CCTV surveillance promised for the locality had also not materialised, they added.
Unidentified persons often defecate inside these empty houses, they complain | Photo Credit: R. Aishwaryaa
Social alientation
“Moreover, we are given housing away from the rest of society. This alienates us further. Several trans persons choose to live elsewhere in rented houses because of such alienation. Many of us are graduates, but nobody is ready to offer us jobs due to social stigma. If we get stable employment and the Magalir Urimai Thogai, we would not have to continue living in such conditions,” Maya Sri said.
They added that the women in the self-help groups refuse to include trans women, and they cannot enroll under Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) without government support. The group said it planned to approach the new government again, seeking redressal of their grievances.
‘Improvements soon’
Sholinganallur MLA ‘ECR’ P. Saravanan of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) said including trans women as beneficiaries under welfare measures would have to be decided by the party leadership.
“Improving Kannagi Nagar and Ezhil Nagar is on the cards and will be taken up soon. I have visited these localities. This has been the condition for over 10 years. Improvements will be carried out shortly,” he said.