For the first time, a block is allotted to house transgender under a high security prison in Thrissur. This is the decision taken to protect their privacy and human rights. This decision was taken after Supreme Court recognizing them as the third gender. This could give them some privacy regarding many considerations. This was the first ever block in India to house transgender.

Government of Kerala have been working on a separate bill to protect the rights of transgender. This new block is situated in the nine acre new jail complex adjacent to Viyyur Central Prison, one of the jail officials said. Actually the complex is designed to house NIA prisoners and and those convicted under Goondas Act and Kerala Anti-social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA).

But the state government had decided to give a separate enclosure for Transgender to protect them. After completion of the block, the prisoners who declare themselves as transgender, they will be housed there. This step of declaring themselves as transgender looks stupid, but it is designed to give confidence to many transgender to declare their gender identity.

“Reserving a separate block for transgender is a historic step towards protecting the rights of the community members and to end the social exclusion faced by them in society,” K Anil Kumar, special officer-in-charge of high security prison, said. As of now, transgender are housed either in the male block or in female block, now the third gender has their own block.

“There were instances in which those belonging to the third gender faced harassment and sexual exploitation in many prisons. We used to take strong action against those found guilty in such cases. The new block is expected to offer a permanent solution to this problem,” he said. Around 20-30 transgender have declared themselves their gender among all the jails in Kerala.