Amid the Election Commission of India’s special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, the transgender people in the State have found themselves struggling to prove their identity. While many of them are estranged from their biological families or were thrown out of their homes, several others who have undergone gender affirming surgery are facing uncertainty regarding their voting status.
Kabita, a 24-year-old transwoman, moved out of home four years ago leaving behind years of physical violence and trauma from her own family members, who even burnt her birth certificate and other documents when she insisted on living independently. “How will I prove my identity now? My family is asking me to come home for the EC’s door-to-door verification. But I feel it’s a trap and they are using the SIR process as an excuse to call me home so they can lock me up and probably abuse me more,” she said.
As part of the SIR exercise, voters are required to prove their identity, origin and, in many cases, parental legacy. For most transpersons and queer individuals either abandoned by their families or those living in shelters and rented accommodations, it is a difficult task. “My partner lost both her parents as a child and lived in a roadside shanty while growing up. That shanty was demolished with time. From where will she get a proof of her previous residence or her ancestors?” Ishan, a 40-year-old transman, said, adding that both he and his partner have been spending sleepless nights.
