Mumbai: Salma, First Transgender Appointed As Lok Adalat Panelist, Inspires Hope

Mumbai, May 24: Salma, who hails from the transgender community, is undoubtedly making her people proud. The community, which is considered to be one of the most deprived, has given a member to the Lok Adalat Panel. Once thrown out by her elder brother and sisters for working with transgender rights'-based groups, today she is not only the first transgender but also one of the most successful panellists in Mumbai's Lok Adalat.

Born in Mahad, Maharashtra, Salma's parents moved to Mumbai when she was just a year old. Her father got a job in the Regional Transport Office and her mother was a homemaker and an entrepreneur. Salma was the youngest among the four siblings. However, when she was 14 years old, she was asked to leave her house after her siblings objected to her working with the transgender groups.

According to a news report in India Today, Salma was quoted as saying, "I was about 14 then. My sisters and brother just asked me to leave the house, and I went with nothing in hand, except for the clothes I was wearing."

Recalling the old childhood memories, she further said, "My mother was the only one who loved me the most and cared for my studies. She helped me study as much as she could. After that, I got help from the many nuns and organisations that helped me. I hope I am making all of them proud."

Salma has a masters degree in education and aspires to go for law studies, as part of her further education. Being appointed as one of the panellists of the Lok Adalat, she now deals with cases of loan defaulters and banking matters. So far, she has attended two days of the court sessions.

Though Salma has achieved much success after becoming the member of the Lok Adalat, she is unhappy with the political parties for bringing no development in her community till date. She said that both the earlier Congress government as well as the current government have failed to sanction a shelter home for the transgender community.

"I have written letters to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, but he does not have the time to meet us for a shelter home. How can we expect the government to help in elevating the community? We need education, jobs so that we can also say that India is great. This will only happen when the community is empowered," she was quoted in the news report.

Meanwhile, Salma shared that she will continue her work for the upliftment of transgenders through her organisation named Kinnar Maa Trust. The trust operates across the country and helps transgenders in the field of health, education and social development.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 24, 2018 07:43 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).