Unless you are inside a car with the window up, there is no escape from the cross dressers in Bangalore traffic signal. They demand money! No coins and change any more. They start only at Rs 10. They are respected in the society (at least they are not looked like a show piece..) and now this respect and space is taken to advantage.
If you are on a two wheeler or an auto rickshaw stopped in a signal, you are bound to give money. Else, they start touching and annoying you. Once myself and my friend were returning from a morning drive. It was a signal near Hebbal that we noticed two cross dressers collecting money. So we took a 5 rupee coin in hand to give it to them. One of them came and got it. Soon after the other one too came, asking for money. We said we already gave it to the other one. She replied, "I don't know her. You give money to me." WTH. "No", said my friend in a stern voice. She replied, "If you won't giving money, I will kiss you." (WTF) We gave more money! There is no escape route.
Doesn't the law prevent them from annoying us? Is there something that could be done?
9 comments:
I have been badly harassed by them on the Brindavan/Lalbagh Express. Now I keep few 10 Rupee notes ready, when I travel in those trains.
This public nuisance should be seen as a major offense, not prostitution.
I have always sat and silently enjoyed the scene in the Chennai trains when these ppl harass men for money :). The time when i feel Im lucky to have been born as a girl ;-)
same is the problem with in St Johns signal in Koramanagala... I have been harassed too...
i tried complaining to the police there.. he asked me to lodge a complaint at Madiwala station...
finally, i had to resort to some violence myself.. only that helped.. i am violent daily now.
Hi Vijesh,
I've a different thought. These are the people whom nobody in the society wants. A normal prostitute is at-least desirable to us men - so is at-least needed by the society. But these people are absolutely not needed, and always misunderstood, mocked upon at every opportunity (we Indians have a sad sense of humour - mocking the deaf, blind, the less abled etc).
So, I feel we should shed our male-chauvinistic approach, and be empathetic towards them. I am sure they too do not enjoy all that.
We cannot solve their problems. But atleast we can politely deny paying, and not be rude. I once told one such person, "sister, i have only Rs.2". She silently took it and didnt further bother me. Its just a change in attitude that matters.
I was in the same situation loong back, tho not in bangalore. we're on our trip to hyd and there was these people who got into our compartment at secunderabad station. There is no way to escape from them, even TTR who was around there, didn't even bother to take our concern. This nuisance is spreading rapidly in our country.
i don't know anyway to stop it. we have to live with it, like how we managed to live with beggars. i think we're left with no choice.
@Padmalaya x-(
@Umesh Ah! brave buddy! I always avoid conflicts, since have heard of bad remarks these ppl do, if the feel they are offended.
@Potter A slight disagreement here. Yes there is a little sense of humor in them, but mostly portrayed in movies. But in reality things have changed well. Educated men and women do not do that. They are not handicapped to *not* work or do like normal people. Instead they demand money with this, which is unacceptable. Like @Red says we need tolerate them or a law should come into force.
Good gawd, that sounds awful! Here in the USA we got folks at intersections in cities who sell flowers or just beg for change in a coffee cup or somethi'n, but ain' none of 'em threaten to kiss ya! Holey-shit!
Shouldn't this be considered equivalent to rape/molestation of women?
Also why are they not threatening/begging women? Just because the society wont tolerate it, right?
@The TrumplebumThats way better!
NikanthThey knew very well how to get a foot on thier rights if we raise a voice againts them. They will say they are not respected in the society et al. Also the cops are bit negligent on them. To me there need not be any law and order! Just that the local police should handle it in each area..
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