TRANSGENDERS IN PAKISTAN — A PLEA FOR TENDERNESS

Problem Statement: Due to the lack of resources and a place to learn skills, the transgender community in Pakistan is forced to dance or beg on the streets. A program should be launched in partnership with multiple NGOs to provide the transgender community the required skills to earn livelihood for themselves in a respectable manner.

Pakistan is not a safe space for transgender. Every now and then, reports of abuse surface the social media causing outrage. However, this outrage only lasts 2–3 days and the news vanishes into thin air. Very often, they are disowned by their own families and kicked out, left all alone to fend for themselves.

According to the 2019 census, around 300,000 transgender are currently residing in Pakistan. Despite the high number of population, they are not given enough opportunities to able to earn and sustain themselves. Due to lack of resources for their community, the only option they are left with is to either beg on the streets or dance to earn livelihood.

What can we do to help them?

Instilling a sense of respect in ourselves and our children is the first and most important step in helping them grow as a community.

Due to the current COVID-19 situation, I was unable to go out and interview some of these people but I did find multiple interviews on YouTube that helped me understand and get a better insight into their problems.

As a society, we can help them learn skills that they can put to their use to earn a respectful livelihood. Non-profit organizations working for human rights can be contacted to help create a program that teaches them skills like rug making, resin art, weaving, stitching etc.

The research I did for this blog was a very insightful experience as it allowed me to empathize and connect with them and get a deeper insight into what their lives are like and what can be done to make their conditions better.