Identity of the third gender

A year ago, the Supreme Court had passed an important judgement giving legal recognition to India’s transgender community. Following that, the in April this year, RBI directed all banks to include the “third gender” in their banking form along with Male and Female. That was a great move but there is a hitch here – RBI issued a directive but without giving a deadline as to from when this inclusion of the third gender gets effective. Thus the means that this third gender, even today when they go to open a bank account, to establish an identity in their own small way, still cannot do so.

Despite RBI’s directive, the KYC form does not include space for this third gender. This problem apart, transgendered people face a roadblock when it comes to producing other documents too – PAN card, proof of residence, voter card, Aadhar card, driver’s licence, passport, ration cards and other such documents. The good part is that all these documents have a third option – male, female and other. Unfortunately, due to prejudices they faced their childhood or stigma from society, they never completed school or any formal education and ration card. And that becomes the crux of all problems.

This recognition of the third gender has been done by the Court and RBI too. Its high time, either banks, by themselves insert this third gender option in their form or RBI recognizes this pain and issues a deadline.