In a shocking incident that happened in Andhra Pradesh, a doctor working in a government hospital reportedly gave away a baby that was found to have intersex traits to a transgender community. The doctor was found to have given it to a Nayak from the Hijra Jamaat.
This went to the notice of Gopi Shankar, the southern regional representative of the National Council for Transgender Persons, who has sought an inquiry into the incident. It was reported that the baby had been abandoned by the parents after they were informed that it was born with intersex traits.
“Primarily, one should understand that such babies who are termed as intersex infants are not transgenders. They may be born with diverse sex characteristics which cannot be classified as male, female or transgender,” said Gopi Shankar. Gopi went on to say, “We wish that the authorities concerned, including the CWC, the District Collector and the Commissioner of Police, take up the issue and see that an inquiry is initiated. The State government should think of passing an order on the lines of Tamil Nadu.”
“More than 10,000 intersex infants are born in India. They are at risk of forced medical interventions such as sex-selective surgeries. They are also at risk of being trafficked or being handed over to the Hijra Jamaat or Haveli if parents disown them,” Gopi was quoted saying.
According to the law, sex-selective surgery is a crime and has been banned. Any related procedure is a punishable crime by law, and children born with intersex traits are to be produced before the District Child Welfare Committee (CWC). This Committee is to take care of them until adopted.
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