ASSAM TIMES POST
Guwahati: Right for equality has been the core fundamental right that has been given by the Constitution of India for the citizens. Since its implementation in the year 1950, still there are communities in the society which are facing inequality or discrimination at various stages.
To address them and be a part of their change, Airports Authority of India has come up with project equality at Guwahati. On November 19 AAI organised a workshop at LGBI Airport Guwahati for the transgenders where it advocated for their recognition as special individual and for their right to equality. The workshop focused on the rights of Transgenders as equal as a part of this society having special energy to live together and motivate others. Members of All Assam Transgender Association were the special guest on the occasion.
Shri Sanjeev Jindal, Regional Executive Director, AAI NER welcoming all the participants said that the theme- Equality awareness itself explains the idea of oneness and right to live together. Article 14 in constitution has given us the right to equality to each and every individual but even after 70 years of its implementation we are still fighting for rights of equality. Either it is based on race, cast, colour, religion, gender etc. people are communities at some level are facing inequality in the society. And when it comes to the Transgenders, right from their birth, society shows them right and fight for equality, but at AAI, as a responsible organisation, we want to go one step ahead in their fight for equality, which can make difference. God has created them as special individual, we should respect them. I personally urge professionals like us that we need to step out for their equality and for that we should practice it and motivate it through others, he mentioned.
Be it at road side, at market place, railway stations, we find them everywhere, respect them they will praise and pray for you, lets fill the gap area you will also feel happy, he added.
Addressing the stakeholders, Ms. Swati Bidhan Baruah, founder, All Assam Transgender Association, said that her fight for equality and her right began at home before challenging the society. I felt like my soul was in the wrong body and I was away from my rights. Since I was 21, I am struggling for the rights of the Transgenders. There are problems in the society, but our number is low but challengers are larger. Sometimes we are considered untouchables, we are ignored, and most of us feel ousted form the main stream, but there are people and organisation which feels for us and I am thankful to Airports Authority of India that they have come up for the upliftment transgenders and of felt for us, she added.
âFinding a job or employing transgenders is a challenge, we are trying to find it thorough different organisations and AAI has come up for it which means a lot for us and I would request all the stakeholders to come up for the Right of Equality. If we can marry, if we can be associated and we can have a family than right to equality becomes reality & equality prevailsâ, she said at the workshop.
Other members of the association, present on the event also narrated their pain and past. whenever We pass through road side, railway station or any public area, people use to comment on us and never respected, but we have to live with the reality. It hurts but at the end of the day we accept the reality of inequality, but some changes have come and people are associating for our equality, said one of the members.
As 20th Nov is observed as the Transgender Day of remembrance, on the occasion Shri Sanjeev Jindal, RED, AAI handed over the letter of empanelment of advocate with AAI to Ms. Swati Barua. This started the association of the Transgenders with AAI at Guwahati. This will help in bringing transgenders in main stream through providing them equal opportunity.
Complementing the initiative and thanking all partners, Shri Ramesh Kumar, Airport Director, Guwahati said that providing skill as per their interest and getting them employed at Guwahati Airport will be our priority. Airlines, Housekeeping staffs, Security, ground handling, facilitations and many other areas are there in the aviation as specially at the airport where we can employee them, he added.
AAI officials, GMs, Officials from Airlines, CISF commandant, employees Union members and several other stakeholders also participated in the workshop.
