Shormita takes a hard look at the plight of the transgenders during the pandemic. These marginalised people are being pushed into deprivation and death. She advocates their cause, exclusively for Different Truths.  

Covid-19 poses a great threat to humankind. Especially, the emergence of the second wave of Covid-19 is a sort of tsunami for every person. The situation is so critical, that human beings are literally on the verge of fatality. There is a scarcity of oxygen cylinders, medicines, oxygen concentrators, vaccines, and hospital beds all over the country. Death rates are much higher if compared to the first wave of Covid-19, cremation grounds are out of space; there is no place to cremate the thousands of dead bodies. Meanwhile, the situation is worse for the people of the transgender community. As their gender is a question mark for society, even the doctors or healthcare workers are not aware of their health problems.

There is a lack of healthcare facilities for transgender people. The foremost reason could be the lack of awareness of healthcare schemes among the transgenders; and secondly, the healthcare infrastructure of India has weakened during this second wave. Moreover, one of the sources of income of transgenders is sex work, which increases the possibility of getting Covid positive. Also, there is high consumption of tobacco among transgenders, which has faultily affected the respiratory system. (CDC, 2020) It is incredibly significant to raise awareness about the symptoms of Covid-19 among transgender people, as most of the trans people are not educated and they are able to realise the criticality of the situation.

With the outbreak of Covid-19, many people have lost their jobs and other sources of income. Markets and shopping complexes are closed, businesses have collapsed, and the tourism industry has virtually shut down. This has slowed down the lives of every individual on the planet. Transgenders are also not untouched by the consequences of Covid-19. This community has lost its major sources of income, i.e., begging, taking badhaai during weddings and ceremonies, and prostitution. They are starving, unable to earn even a square meal a day. It’s terrible to witness their unending sufferings. The practice of social distancing is a much-needed protocol to follow today, but this has proved to be a curse for transgenders. Transgenders are at high risk because there are on the threshold of poverty and hunger. Due to the discrimination prevalent in society, transgenders are facing severe mental, emotional, and financial trauma during the time of the pandemic.

As the vaccination drive has begun in India, it is the right of every individual to obtain a vaccine on time. It is the moral duty of the government and the society to provide vaccination to every individual of the transgender community, regardless of their gender, caste, creed, and colour. They should be provided with basic aids, i.e., grocery, sanitisers, PPE kits, and mask for free, which is available for other people living under the poverty line. The government should arrange special Covid-19 wards for the trans population of the country. They should be provided a subsidy for their daily needs, as these folks are struggling for their survival in an exceedingly difficult period.

Pandemic is a double whammy to the transgenders. These marginalised people are being ousted from the margin of the margins toward deprivation and death.

Reference

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (2020b). Information for healthcare professionals about Coronavirus (COVID-19).  www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fhealthcare-facilities%2Findex.html

Visuals by Different Truths

Shormita Bose

Shormita Bose, is pursuing PhD in English literature from GLA University, Mathura. She has completed her M.A. & B.A. from University of Allahabad. She has contributed her research article in the edited book- Human Rights: Issues, Challenges and Present Status and also written an article in the anthology -Words That Stay Forever. Currently, she is working on her own edited book- Women and Queers: The Marginalized Gender.