During college days, I used to wonder the source of income for the transgenders as and when I came across them in the road. To be clear, they were much better dressed than beggers even when they used to harrass people for money at traffic junctions, railways, etc.
So what's their secret to their far better living standards than many working class people like watchmen, clerks, auto drivers, etc.?
It turns out harrassment on the road is only one of their small source of income. One of the larger sources of income for them is harrassment/exhortion of shop store businesses and taking baksheesh on festivals also.
The group is close knit and also very organised to support each other when required to create scenes/ dramas at places. They have clear demarcation of shops, roads and areas where they have their shops which provide their source of income.
With some transgender people becoming even MLA in India, I hope they take up more normal jobs in the society and get themselves acquainted to other people in the society in a better way so that people/ kids are not scared of them. The more they join the society in meaningful ways, the more people would be acceptable of them, removing the stigma attached to them.
