JAMMU, AUGUST 31: Members of the transgender community held a rally in Jammu on Saturday demanding reservation in the legislative assembly.
The rally, which began at Vikram Chowk and concluded at Hari Singh Park in the city center, saw participants carrying placards and chanting slogans in support of their demands.
“We have 90 seats in the assembly, but not one is reserved for us. We want at least one seat in each of the two divisions of Jammu and Kashmir so that our issues can be addressed,” said Raveena Mahant, who led the rally.
She explained that the rally aimed to highlight the transgender community’s need for reservation and representation in the electoral process, which has been consistently overlooked by political parties in the region.
“Without such reservation, our community remains underrepresented and unable to influence decisions that directly impact our lives,” Mahant added.
The transgender community vowed to continue advocating for these crucial changes, urging the government and political parties to address their concerns promptly.
Another participant criticized the political parties and government for only offering “lip service” to democracy, noting the lack of job reservations and appropriate facilities, such as separate washrooms in educational institutions, for transgender individuals.
“We are raising our voices for the rights of the LGBT community. We want the government to listen to us,” the participant emphasized.
