An old age home for transgenders was launched in Pakistan

The Dhaka Times Desk Transgenders, like everyone else, reach old age at some point. At that time there is no one to see them. From those thoughts, one of their own communities recently established a retirement home for the elderly.

In Pakistan, the third gender or transgender people call themselves ``Khwaja Sehras''. Most of the time they are abandoned by the family. But like everyone else, they too reach old age. At that time there is no one to watch them.

Out of these thoughts, one of their own community recently established a retirement home for the elderly. BBC Islamabad Correspondent Mobin Azhar writes, At least a chance to pass the end of life with dignity has been created for many of them.

Diamond Market is located next to the Badshahi Mosque in Lahore. Although it is a diamond market, diamonds are not available to buy there. But there the sex of the third gender is bought for money. Among those who are seen dancing, those who are old, they provide these services for less money than the young ones, it is mentioned in the news media.

When they get older i.e. old, it becomes very difficult for them to make a living. One of this community is Ashi Bhatt. Many respect him as Guru Ashi. Even 25 years ago, he was quite famous in Lahore. At many weddings or parties in the city, he was regularly seen engrossed in dance songs. But as he grew older, times changed for him.

He was saying with his beloved cat Chanda on his bed, 'In those days there was a party every night. I was paid whatever I wanted in return for the dance. But now times have changed. He said that he still performs dance programs but he is young enough to take them with him.

The young ones are taken so that if he pants, they can keep everyone drunk for quite some time. Just as Guru Ashi's life has changed with age, so has Pakistan. Since the 1990s, Pakistan has been steadily leaning towards conservative thinking.

Which means that the place of people like Ashi is gradually shrinking in Pakistani society. People's way of thinking is also changing in new generation Pakistan. However, the Hijra community has always had a place there. During the Mughal period, even hijras were once employed as advisors in the royal court!

Many in Pakistan still believe it is beneficial for transgenders to bless newlyweds and children. However, discrimination against them is widespread. Still their main occupations remain dancing, begging and sex workers.

Pakistan is home to approximately 500,000 third gender people. Most transgenders have taken it for granted that their family abandons them. But in the future they have to face a difficult reality.

In Pakistani society, the responsibility of old parents is mainly on the shoulders of sons and daughters. But when there are no sons and daughters, it becomes very difficult to get any help. The reality for transgender people is much more difficult. To deal with that problem, the people of this community have taken a measure themselves.

Their system is called 'Guru-Chela' system. Just hearing the name gives some idea of how the procedure will be. Guru means someone who is old, and chela means someone who is young in age. Where the youth will have the responsibility to look after the Guru. However, this system does not always work. Ashi Butt realized this problem from his own personal experience.

He said, 'One day a man came to me and said, 'The body of one of you has been lying in the morgue for the past week.' No funeral was held as no one claimed the body. I was very sad that day. I could not accept it at all.'

From there, an idea started spinning in my head. He has been trying for the last 8 years. Finally, in February this year, he opened a retirement home for the elderly in his community.

40 elderly people of the third gender live in his old age home. For those who have accommodation, food, medical facilities. He also wants to build a medical center and bigger accommodation in front of it. In the beginning, Ashi Bhat started this center with his own funds. But recently started getting some financial support too.

One of the residents of the temporary residence is named Madhu. Madhu, 50, has spent most of her life as a sex worker. He was saying, 'Earlier I used to take 500 to 1000 rupees for each time. At present, even one hundred rupees is not enough. It is not possible to pay house rent with this money. At the age of 50, we have nothing on our foreheads except alms.'

Currently, Madhu visits this center several times a week. Spend time there playing Ludo with other residents. After revealing her identity, Madhu was severely beaten by her own brothers. But here, Madhu spends time with people like herself in a retirement home made for the third gender. Source: BBC Bangla.