A Hijra named Kokila age 32 was suffering from abdominal pain and was admitted to Female surgical emergency ward at G.H Pondicherry. She was advised to have an operation. She was also found that she was HIV positive. The nurses attending on Kokila asked her to lift her saree show her “sex organ” – if male or female. Then she was made to sleep on the floor. She asked a blanket for her use and was scolded as “Transgender like you, can do without any comfort. And the doctor threw the case sheet in her face and she threw her out of the room cursing her and warning her never to step again into G.H.



Being a Transgender [hijra], Kokila is a human like any of us; presumably she has all the rights in the society guaranteed by the Constitution, therefore to have proper treatment when ill. The doctors who have to save lives behaved in this manner. Then how can one expect the general people to be kind to Aravanis.



“Sahodaran”, a CBO working in the field of prevention for STD\HIV\AIDS in Pondicherry conducted a massive rally on this issue to show the opposition to such insult and violation of rights and to show the unity of non-heterosexual people and T.G of all over Tamil Nadu and Pondy.



“FMSASHP” Federation for Male Social And Sexual Health Programme is formed at Trichy by the CBO`s in Tamil Nadu. It has nearly 21CBO`s as the members. Out of it 15 were registered and the remaining was in process. All over Tamil Nadu, the CBO opposed this Kokila matter. They formed under FMSASHP and arranged a bus and took part in the rally on 18th Oct 2006, at Pondy. Nearly 13 CBO`s from FMSASHP participated.


The rally started from in front of Forest Department on and passes thru Subbiah square – Anna Square – Anna Salai – Nehru Street – Mission Street – General Hospital and closing stage at Gandhi Thidal on 18th October 2006, between 11.30 am to 1.00 pm. About 350 non-heterosexual People, Aravanis, CBOs, and NGOs participated from all over Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry.



They shouted slogans against Pondicherry Government and Hospital Officials to take immediate action. They also demanded their basic rights. The Inspector of Police Mr. Saravanan negotiated. Mr. Ganesh, Project Manager, Sahodaran Pondy, explained the issue and their demands to the officials.

At the end of the rally Mr. Ganesh, Project Manager, Sahodaran Pondy, Mr. Jaya Kumar, Secretary, FMSASHP Trichy, Mr. Killivalavan Human Rights Activist, Pondy, Ms. Aasha Bharathi, Director, THAA Chennai, Ms. Priya Babu, Director, Sudar Foundation Kanchepuram, met the Chief Minister and handed over a memorandum. The Chief Minister Mr. Rengasamy took immediate action at the spot for immediate enquiry.



Organizations attended:


• THAA [CBO] , Chennai
• Sudar Foundation [CBO] Kancheepuram
• Sahodaran [CBO] Chennai
• Sahodaran [CBO] Pondicherry
• Sahodaran [CBO] Karaikal
• Lotus [CBO] Kumbakonam
• MCDS [CBO] ICWO Chennai
• PNP+ [CBO] Pondicherry
• READ [NGO] Cuddalore
• Villupuram Aravanigal Association [CBO] Villupuram



"FMSASHP"



• SWAM [CBO] Chennai
• Snegyitham [CBO] Tiruchirapalli
• Naam [CBO] Dindigul
• Friends [CBO] Tanjore
• Nesam [CBO] Coimbatore
• Udayam [CBO] Pudukkotai
• MSMS [CBO] Erode
• Wheel [CBO] Karur
• Gokulam [CBO] Madurai
• Bright [CBO] Ramanadhapuram
• CARE [CBO] Theni
• ADAMS [CBO] Salem
• Pasam [CBO] Cuddalore