G.O Ms No. 199 Dated 21.12.2006 of Social Welfare Dept, Tamil Nadu

Social Welfare – Rehabilitation of Aravani’s (eunuchs) Recommendation Sub-Committee – Orders Issued.

G.O. (Ms) No.201, Social Welfare and Nutritious Meal Programme Department, Dated: 23.10.2003.

From the Director of Social Welfare Letter Rc.No 5998/WW1(3)/2005, dated 25.7.2006 and 2.11.2006

Aravanis are biologically born male who define themselves as a "Women trapped in a man's body". This behavioral disorder makes them behave like girls. Most of the aravanis left their Home and after joining their community live miserable lives, seeking out a living by begging, dancing and prostitution; thus becoming vulnerable to diseases like HIV / AIDS. They are also prone to sexual and verbal abuses from the general public. Due to lack of identity to a particular gender, these aravanis are discriminated by the society and remain isolated.

2) In the election manifesto of the present Government the following assurance was given:-

"With a view to protect the Welfare of Aravanis (Trans Gender) who have been ignored and treated with disgust and contempt by all the sections of the Society. We will take appropriate decision after a thorough examination of various demands made by them". In the G.O. read above a sub Committee was constituted for rehabilitation of eunuchs with the following Members:-

1.	Director of Social Welfare	Chairman
2.	Superintendent of Police (CB-CID)	Member
3.	Dr.Manorama, CHES	Member
4.	Joint Director (NSS) School Education Department, Chennai-6	Member
5.	Field Officer, Department of Social Defence	Member

With a view to understand the issues and problems that the aravanis face and also to identify remedial measures and suggest suitable recommendations for improvement of their lives through various strategies, a consultation meeting was held in the Directorate of Social Welfare, Chepauk, Chennai on 25^th October 2006. Members of the Sub-committee comprising of Dr. P. Manorama from CHES, representative from Social Defence, Deputy Director of School Education, SP, CBCID participated in the consultation. Representative from Women Development Corporation, Joint Director, Public Health, Assistant Director, Rehabilitation Department, SIARRC, Deepam Welfare Association, Padmashri Sarojini Varadappan Mahalir Sangam, Officers of the Directorate of Social Welfare etc. attended the session. The consultation was facilitated by the Director of Social Welfare. Many issues and problem faced by the aravanis were brought out in details by the members of the aravani associations. The solutions and remedial measures were also discussed in detail.

3) The Sub-Committee has recommended certain measures to improve the living conditions of the Aravanis. The Government have examined them and agreed to the recommendations of the Sub-Committee. Accordingly the Government issue the following orders to implement the recommendations of the Sub-Committee for the welfare of the Aravani’s : -

i) Counseling should be given to children with behavior changes in schools and for this teachers should be specially trained to identify such children.

Identify MSM cases and counsel them as far as possible to prevent them from going into Sex Re-Construction Surgery.

The Health Department in Co-ordination with the recognized and qualified counselors of the Health and Social Defence Department shall under take a programme of counseling and sensitizing in this matter in all the Districts wherever it is required

ii) Family counseling by the teachers with the help of NGOs sensitized in that area should be made mandatory so that such children are not disowned by their families. The C.E.O.s , D.E.O.s, District Social Welfare Officers and Officers of Social Defence are requested to arrange compulsory counseling with the help of teachers and NGOs in the Districts wherever it is required.

iii) There is no ban in admitting eunuchs in Schools and Colleges. Admission in School and Colleges should not be denied based on their sex identity. If any report is received of denying admission of aravani’s suitable disciplinary action should be taken by the authorities concerned. The School and Higher Education Departments will issue necessary circulars to the concerned.

iv) The survey is one of the important aspect which could help the Government to assess the clear picture of the status of the ‘Aravani’s’ for giving full rehabilitation for their improvement and upliftment of life. Hence, a detailed survey of aravanis in the state should be done. This work shall be entrusted to the District Collectors who can collect information through the revenue officials. The Director of Social Welfare is requested to design a ‘format’ and send it to all collectors. The Revenue Department is requested to give necessary instruction to all collectors to carry out the survey.

v) The Health and Family Welfare is requested to take up a decision regarding legalized Sex- Re-Construction surgery in Government Hospitals for aravanis who are willing to take up the surgery even after counseling and issue necessary instruction to the Medical Services Department.

vi) Special vocational training and skill development training should be given either through exclusive Self Help Group or as individuals, by Women Development Corporation. Small and petty loans to be arranged to aravanis in Self Help Groups who have undergone skill training. Tamil Nadu Women Development Corporation has already implemented exclusive Self Help Groups Schemes for the Aravanis. Similar training programme may be arranged for considerable No. of Aravanis in the Districts by the corporation in a phased manner.

vii) The Collectors shall be requested to conduct special grievance day redressal meetings once in a quarter exclusively for the aravanis (distribution of ID Cards and ration cards other problems etc. would be dealt). The Revenue Department is requested to issue suitable instruction to the Collectors in this regard.

viii) Taking up the research on behavior and life style of aravani’s will help the Government to take a correct decision an various grievances of aravani’s. After completion of the survey by the collector, it can be given to the Higher Education Department in government to issue suitable instructions to all Universities and Educational Institutions who have facilities to take up such research activities. The Director of Social Welfare is requested to take necessary further action in the matter.

4) The Director of Social Welfare is requested to take follow up action on the directions issued in para 3 above in consultation with concerned Departments and send a report to Government.