Model, beauty pageant winner and social media influencer Nitasha Biswas knew the journey from being a man to a woman would be complicated, but she didn’t let anything stop her from ‘righting the wrong’. On the occasion of International Transgender Day of Visibility, activists said that while things are not easy for transgenders anywhere, the situation in India has improved in recent years. Central and state governments have taken steps for their well being. Born in a south Kolkata family, Biswal said, “I lost my mother at an early age. I didn’t even have friends in school and the pranks of relatives and acquaintances made my life worse.” Biswal, 30, said, “My father, who was a government official, wanted me to become a doctor or an engineer like my siblings. I wanted to enter the fashion world and it was possible when I went to Delhi for higher education. I could make my dreams come true.
He said that no one except a friend stood with him during the operation for gender change. After this Biswal felt ‘free’ and she won the first beauty pageant for transgender. He said, “Now my relationship with my father has improved a lot. I know a lot of young people are going through the same struggle and I share my story to encourage them.” Simran Bharucha, Director of Transgender Health at the John Hopkins University School of Medicine’s ‘Project Accelerator’ said that Transgender The doors of many sectors have opened in the last few years but many people are not able to avail the benefits and service available to them.
He said, “Some state governments are taking steps to bring about much desired changes. The Odisha government is recruiting transgenders in the police.” Bharucha said, “Similar welfare measures are being taken in other parts of the country as well. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 has also brought a positive change for the community.