00:00Why? Because our communities have been without education for many years
00:06So now they want to access 1% reservation
00:09But they need some technical skills, some coaching
00:12The document is providing that
00:20My name is Nisha Godur
00:22I was born in a village called Godur
00:25I came to Bengaluru about 20 years ago
00:302013 Feb 1st, Sangama joined
00:34Sangama was established in 1999
00:37and registered in 2001
00:40Initially, Sangama started for mobilizing working class transgender communities
00:47across Bengaluru
00:49Initially, the Sangama team started
00:54Those people started the documentation
00:57Newspaper clippings, set up the library
01:01Simultaneously, they mobilized community people
01:05Polar identified themselves as Ekijidars
01:08Working class community people
01:10Because working class communities, gender and sexual minorities
01:15are facing more than upper class and middle class community people
01:20Because they don't know English, they do sex work, they do baking
01:25They were not aware about their gender, sex and sexuality also
01:31So, in 2001, when ETHARA was established
01:35What happened in Sangama?
01:38Get-togethers were held
01:40Sunday meetings were held
01:42So, every Sunday, gender and sexual minorities used to come together to the office
01:48and they have fun, play, singing, dancing
01:53Slowly, the Sangama team has educated our community people about
01:57sex, gender, sexuality, who we are
02:00Public is saying to us in a vulgar language
02:04They identify us in a vulgar language
02:07But, we don't know who we are
02:10So, we educate that
02:12What is gender?
02:14What is trans?
02:16What is gender trans?
02:18What is sex trans?
02:20What is transsexual?
02:22So, if we don't spread awareness
02:24Our communities go to the main stakeholders
02:27Media, policy makers, government stakeholders
02:30We educate them
02:32We don't know what society is
02:35So, we are transgenders
02:37We have equal rights like you
02:39So, by understanding that
02:42The main change is self-confidence
02:46Working class communities don't have confidence
02:48Since 2000-2001
02:50We don't have confidence
02:52Because we left our families
02:54We left our education institutions
02:56We lost our education
02:58We lost our job opportunities
03:00So, how can we sustain for bread and butter?
03:04So, obviously, we were doing sex work and waiting for bread and butter
03:08So, once we got confidence
03:10So, we thought we can do something
03:13For our community and the society
03:15So, Sangamma's soul is social change
03:18So, that happened in the initial stages
03:21So, we started doing projects
03:24Because many trans persons did sex work
03:28They were more engaged in sex work
03:31There were HIV infections
03:33So, we started HIV prevention projects
03:38So, we implemented that
03:40So, Sangamma's soul is social change advocacy
03:45So, we didn't just do service-based work
03:49We started a community-based organization called SAMARA
03:53So, we targeted intervention projects
03:58We handed them over to SAMARA
04:00So, they took over
04:05So, in 2006-07
04:07Female sex workers also faced similar problems
04:11Even then, we didn't reach the working class female sex workers
04:16Because upper class sex workers
04:19They have English access
04:21They have internet
04:23They are financially settled
04:25So, we didn't reach the upper class gay and lesbian
04:28We didn't reach the upper class sex workers
04:32So, we didn't reach the working class female sex workers
04:36Even then, Sangamma's soul is society
04:40So, we have FCRA
04:44We can't do too much
04:46So, for advocacy, for activism
04:49We formed two collectives
04:51One is Karnataka Sexual Minority School
04:54For GSM rights
04:56Karnataka Sex Workers Union
04:58For female sex workers rights
05:00Then we thought many community people were
05:04Peer HIV's, people living with HIV
05:07So, we formed one collective called SADHANE
05:10So, who all are affected to HIV
05:12They are GSM or female sex workers
05:15So, we formed one SADHANE collective
05:18For peer HIV's issues
05:20Address the issues of HIV positive
05:22Nutrition supplement, TRT tablets
05:25So, like that
05:27So, later on
05:29Karnataka Sexual Minority Forum, SAMARA
05:33They got independent
05:35They have a governing body
05:37They are taking projects from the government
05:39They are doing successful work
05:41So, Sangamma is growing
05:43Still, we are nurturing Karnataka Sex Workers Union
05:47And as of now
05:50We are in 22 districts of Karnataka
05:53For working class gender and sexual minorities
05:56Female sex workers and people living with HIV
05:59In 2000, we got a good opportunity
06:04From Ajinkya Religious Foundation
06:06To provide ration kits to slum people
06:10In the Corona time
06:12So, one extra
06:14One door was opened for us
06:17Day 1 to 2000
06:19We worked only for GSM
06:22Female sex workers and peer HIV
06:25But in 2000, we got a chance to work with
06:27Non-GSM and non-sex workers communities also
06:30In Bengaluru town
06:32We selected 10 wards
06:34And we are working with slum people
06:38For their rights
06:40Slum children
06:42Pre-learning schools
06:44We started pre-learning schools
06:46We are working for their land rights
06:48Water rights
06:50Sanitary rights
06:53Now, in 2010 to 2015
06:57We worked in Kerala also
06:5940 districts of Kerala
07:00So, Kerala government has invited us
07:02To do survey across Kerala
07:04For transgender survey
07:06And we only draft the transgender policy for Kerala
07:10So, that is the success of our Sangamma
07:13Sangamma, initially we worked in Tamil Nadu also
07:16So, as of now
07:18We stick to Karnataka only
07:20We work in 22 districts
07:22Including Kerala
07:24So, that is the background of Sangamma's work
07:27So, could you also shed some light on
07:30The organization's role in getting
07:33Horizontal reservation for the community
07:35Karnataka became the first state to do that in 2021
07:38So, what was Sangamma's fight?
07:40How did the organization work to get that?
07:44What Sangamma gave me was
07:48Respect to life of gender and sexual minorities
07:51Dignified life
07:53So, if we don't get dignified life
07:55I am not saying sex work is wrong
07:57Of course, sex work is also a work
07:59So, begging is also their choice
08:01So, but
08:02Dignified life is for those who don't want anything
08:05For those who don't have
08:07For those who don't have job opportunities
08:09From last 10 years
08:11One generation came up
08:132001, I came
08:152001 to Bengaluru
08:17My education was just SSL
08:19But from last 10 years
08:21Many trans persons emerged
08:23They passed 11th standard, 12th standard
08:25Degree
08:26So, Sangamma thought
08:28We need to fight for reservation
08:30So, not all states in the country
08:33So, 2001, Sangamma and myself
08:35Put a public inter-criticization in the high court
08:38So, reach law
08:40It's a legal entity
08:42So, reach law
08:46Public prosecutor
08:48Argue
08:50So, government
08:52Gave them 1% reservation
08:54Horizontal reservation
08:56That is very important
09:00But
09:01Of course, we welcome it
09:03We get a lot of help from communities
09:06But
09:07On the ground, some technical problems
09:09For example
09:11In police department, post-confirmation
09:131% means
09:15There is an opportunity to apply
09:17But they need some technical skills
09:19Running
09:21Body fitting
09:23Because our communities
09:25Have been without education for many years
09:27So, now
09:29They want to access 1% reservation
09:31But they need some technical skills
09:33Some coaching
09:35Government doesn't give that
09:37Because as an NGO
09:39We have some limitations also
09:41We can't do everything
09:43So, state has to take the responsibility
09:45To educate
09:47To develop the skills
09:51There should be coaching
09:53Only when that is done
09:55They will access it
09:57But, there is a Pooja in the country
09:59I mean
10:01In Madakeri
10:03As a gereja accountant
10:05They use 1% reservation
10:07To get a job
10:09But, it is different
10:11It is 4-5%
10:13But, our demand
10:15Is that 1% reservation exists
10:17But
10:19To access it
10:21There are technical problems
10:23We need to discuss with the NGO
10:25What are the technical problems
10:27We need to try to encounter
10:29So, there should be a coaching centre
10:31Or a skilling centre
10:33State has to take the responsibility
10:35To develop the skills
10:43Not yet
10:45But, we are demanding
11:05How has the implementation been
11:07In that sense?
11:09Thanks to Congress Government
11:11Before Election
11:13They called us for
11:15National Consultation for Manifesto
11:17We got invitation
11:19And we participated also
11:21So, we gave some recommendations
11:23Like 1% reservation across
11:25India
11:271, 2, 3, 4
11:29So, Election is also
11:31So,
11:33So,
11:35State Government
11:37Shakti schemes
11:39Many trans women
11:41Who got castration
11:43They are accessing the Shakti schemes
11:45In the bus
11:47Who identified themselves as transgender
11:49But, they didn't
11:51Get castration
11:53They didn't wear saree
11:55They are in the
11:57Male attire
11:59But, their gender is changed
12:01So,
12:03It is difficult for them to access
12:05So, it was a problem in Bedgaon
12:07Then,
12:09It was a problem in Ballar
12:11Then, our team
12:13Went to the bus depot
12:15To advocate
12:17Transgender car is there
12:19In the National Portal
12:21To show that
12:23You need to leave the bus
12:25Discrimination is happening
12:27In the bus
12:29Physical attire
12:31Male attire
12:33You have moustache
12:35How can you be transgender
12:37All co-passengers were insulted
12:39So, it should be reduced
12:41But, who all are wearing saree
12:43Who all are got castration
12:45They are accessing Shakti schemes
12:47In large scale
12:49And even Gruha Lakshmi scheme
12:51Gruha Lakshmi
12:53It was there before
12:55But, ration card is not there
12:57So, we did advocacy
12:59Many organizations also did advocacy
13:01So, what they did
13:03Transgender car should be there
13:05Without ration card
13:07Because, many of us are single
13:09So, there is no ration card
13:11So, now
13:13Transgender ID card should be there
13:15And apply to Gruha Lakshmi
13:17In Bedgaon
13:19Next month
13:21Next month
13:23Next day
13:45Actually, government job is problem
13:47To access
13:49They are making it a problem
13:51Madhugiri
13:53Madhugiri
13:55Their male attire
13:57Transgender ID card
13:59They apply
14:01So, they have to transgender
14:03They are there
14:05So, social change is happening
14:07Physical attire
14:09Female attire
14:11they are making a problem
14:13But, all transgender
14:15We are rescuing
14:17For example, there is no self-identification in the Nassar government.
14:21So, castration is not a mandatory.
14:23Dress code is not a mandatory for identification of a gender.
14:27But, if someone is a transgender, they don't have that much support.
14:34But, at the University of Mysore, one of our friends is studying.
14:39He is doing a PhD.
14:41Bangalore University also, I think.
14:43Yeah.
14:44And also, I think this time, for elections, the number of transgender voters was,
14:50I think, the highest it has ever been in Karnataka.
14:54So, does your organization also help if someone wants voter ID?
14:59Yes, of course.
15:00Across 22 districts, we are working for four components.
15:04For gender and sexual minorities.
15:06One is health, one is social data, voter ID, passport, everything.
15:11The third one is community organizing.
15:13Because community wants to organize, community has to organize for their rights.
15:18So, that is the third component.
15:20And the fourth component is savings and their livelihood.
15:23Because many trans persons and the gender and sexual minorities
15:27are not willing to relocate to Bangalore to find their livelihood.
15:30They want their livelihood, better livelihood in their own places.
15:34So, in this area, we are working for social protection schemes.
15:41So, of course, we focused on voter ID because that's our right.
15:46As a citizen, we need to vote.
15:49And what were some of the major demands this election from the new government?
15:54What were the major demands from the community?
15:57The MP election?
15:58Yes.
15:59So, across India, 1% reservation has to extend.
16:04That was our main demand.
16:07So, housing.
16:08Housing problem is there.
16:09Huge problem for whole-hour wearing saree,
16:13whole-hour identifying themselves as transsexual women.
16:16There is a huge housing problem.
16:19The housing is the second thing.
16:21And the nutrition supplement for PNH and GST.
16:25Transgenders.
16:26Because non-peer HIVs, how much they eat calories.
16:31So, HIV people has to take more calories.
16:34So, this is the top three demands.
16:37We have some more demands also.
16:39Right.
16:40Okay.
16:41And I wanted to understand this one thing.
16:43How important is horizontal reservation?
16:46Because I was reading where some courts had instead provided vertical
16:51and the fight was to get horizontal.
16:53So, how would horizontal reservation matter to you differently than vertical?
17:23So, overall, if you see, I mean, you are welcoming the reservation,
17:52welcoming the policies.
17:53But on ground, there is still a lot to overcome.
17:56Yes, some problem is there.
17:57State has to take the responsibility, the coaching, technical skills.
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