Striving for a dignified life

Pinki Hijra wanted to be treated like everyone else in society but her identity, how she was born in this world, always seemed to get in the way. Like every human being, she craved love and respect, but the world is particularly cruel to hijras.

Pinki, a conservancy worker of Chittagong City Corporation (CCC), and her group are working to realise that aspiration.

This group, comprising 11 members, joined CCC in January 2018. They approached the mayor of CCC, requesting him to provide them with jobs so they could live a dignified life.

It all began with Jarin Hijra, another member of the group, forming a community-based organisation called "Bandhan Manob Unnayan Sangha" in order to counsel teens, who are just discovering their identities as hijra, to refrain them from joining hijra groups involved in extortion and harassment of general people.

A group of 11 hijras joined the work under Chittagong City Corporation in January 2018. Photo: Rajib Raihan

Jarin, who used to be a part of one such group, said, “I used to demand money from people and worked as a dancer. I had no respect for myself. How could I when my interactions with people were limited to receiving hateful words and looks?”

“Society did not treat us well and we reciprocated by harassing people for money. I decided to change my path. I wanted to live like a regular person. That's why I formed the organisation,” she said.

She also started looking for a job which would give her the chance to work amongst people.

Eventually, Jarin and Pinki found work at CCC -- to supervise conservancy workers in Madarbari area of the port city.

Though they started off with much enthusiasm, several members of the group began skipping work and went back to their old “profession” of extortion.

“We earned around Tk 40,000 every month doing what hijras traditionally do. Now, as CCC employees, we get only around Tk 9,000 each,” said Pinki.

Jarin, however, expressed her frustration: “Didn't they know about the salary before joining the job? They did. This is unacceptable behaviour. Because of some, the whole hijra community gets a bad rap.”

When contacted, SM Shofiqul Mannan Siddique, chief conservancy officer of CCC, confirmed that he had reports of some of the hijras skipping work.

“Members of their own group do not cooperate with them. This will make their efforts to change social stereotypes more difficult,” said Shofiqul.

The problem does not end there. As this group began calling out other hijras to stop earning money the traditional way, leaders of several hijra groups opposed and cornered them, informed Kotha, another member of Jarin's group.

About the hardship they are going through right now, Anamika Hijra, the youngest member of the group, said, “No one wants us as tenants. If the CCC can provide residential facilities, it will be very helpful.”

Mayor AJM Nasir Uddin said, “In our society, it is always difficult for them [hijras] to lead a normal life. They came to me with an intention to change their way of life.

“I understand their hardship. I heard some of them have been skipping work; I will look into the matter. And about other facilities for them, I will manage as much as I can in my capacity.”