Karnataka now gives 1% reservation for transgender people in government jobs, a first in India. This change comes after amending the Karnataka Civil Service (General Recruitment) Rule, 1977. When the government announces job openings, there should be a category for transgender people along with men and women. This rule also says that transgender people should not be treated unfairly during the hiring process. If there are no transgender applicants, the job can go to a man or woman from the same group of applicants.
Over the past few years, LGBTQ+ rights and the call for a reservation for the transgender community have remained in the spotlight. So, at first glance, Karnataka’s 1% horizontal reservation to transgender persons in civil services posts may seem like a significant step forward. However, the reality is that the majority of transgender individuals still encounter challenges when applying for or securing these positions.
Why is the transgender quota not working?
The marginalised section of society, including those from the SC/ST category, continues to experience significant discrimination. Transgender individuals belonging to these groups are even more vulnerable. Despite reservations, the majority of transgender persons struggle to secure decent-paying jobs. This is due to the casteist and patriarchal nature of Indian society. Not to mention, the reservation is only 1%, yet the cisgender community still feels threatened by the presence of transgender community.
Even if the state has announced reservations for transgender people, if there are no applicants or less than 1%, the positions will automatically go to other categories. The 1% job reservation still lacks clear guidelines for implementation, so it is not really benefiting the trans community.
The employment challenges faced by transgender people go beyond societal and workplace discrimination. Roughly half of the transgender community in India is illiterate, which restricts the talent pool even if companies are willing to hire them. Many transgender students drop out of school due to harassment and bullying, leading to incomplete education.
A tiring ordeal for availing reservation
The most severe flaw in the reservation procedure is how a transgender person has to prove their identity certificate and face taunts and remarks from officials until they are satisfied with the certificate’s correctness. While the law mandates equal treatment for transgender individuals, the partial behaviour of the cisgender community often makes them hesitant to step forward and claim their reservation. The hiring committee may not openly display transphobia, but they will certainly test the boundaries to see how much they can get away with.
Many transgender individuals face difficulty in job applications due to lacking basic documents. Often, they have two different names, one before gender transition and another after. This discrepancy presents a hurdle in the job application process. Accepting certificates of transgender people, even with different names, would provide them with more opportunities and greatly benefit their community.
The final thoughts on transgender reservation
The rollout of reservations for transgender people in India is still in its early stages. There are various challenges ahead, such as unclear implementation guidelines, limited awareness among the transgender community, and societal discrimination. It seems that the promised reservation rights for the trans community remain only on paper. The job reservation policy will only be effective if the government provides proper support. The government needs to ensure that they don’t miss out on reservation benefits due to missing education certificates or documents.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the writer’s insights, supported by data and resources available both online and offline, as applicable. Changeincontent.com is committed to promoting inclusivity across all forms of content, which we define broadly to include media, policies, law, and history—encompassing all elements that influence the lives of women and gender-queer individuals. Our goal is to promote understanding and advocate for comprehensive inclusivity.
