WORKSHOP ON TRANSGENDERS AND RAPE IN COOCH BEHAR

By Pradip Kundu (TNI Cooch Behar) ~ Edited By Ishita Das (TNI Siliguri)

Webdesk, TNI Cooch Behar, 17th July, 2015: It will arouse a kind of satisfaction hearing that a remote district like Cooch Behar is also expressing its concern over now-a-days burning issues like rape and identity of transgenders. A workshop on this issue was organized by the Cooch Behar Maitri Sangha Society at Student’s Health Home on 16th July,  Thursday from 1-5 PM. Financial partners of the event were  AID(USA) and Karnasubarna Welfare Society(Baharampur). The workshop was successfully directed by Arindam Das aka Sumi Das. Ani Dutta, the professor of The University of Iowa( USA); Raina Roy, a transgender activist; Apurba Singha, a lawyer of Dinhata Sub-Divisional Court and many other eminent personalities attended the workshop.  Goutam Ghatak and Sheela Ghatak, the famous poets of the town here presented their respective poems. In the opening session, the discussion was on the heinous crime like rape, its disgraceful effects, and awareness against this. Then the problems of transgenders, their social unacceptability, their demands of social recognition and requirements were a matter of consideration. Next, there was a debate session on social vengeance, racial discrimination, and their associate justice. However, the workshop has become a bold step towards changing the outlook of the present generation regarding the third gender i.e. transgender and broadened our views.

Photo: Pradip Kundu (TNI Cooch Behar)