Transgender community celebrates its recognition as third gender

The transgender community celebrated victory in New Delhi on Sunday as India recognised 'transgender' as a third gender. The Supreme Court of India on Tuesday granted the shunned transgender community legal recognition on basis of their gender, entitling them to same rights as any other citizen, a sweeping verdict that seeks to end centuries of discrimination and ostracism and include them in welfare programmes for the poor, to help them overcome social and economic challenges. However, participant in the rally, Simran Sheikh, said that it would be long struggle to change the approach of the society towards their community.