India is a conservative society. Despite realising the better ratings of adult content most channels have to make do with lesser of it thanks to strictures from the govt. Meanwhile channels are getting into areas which were avoided earlier. One area is being open to trans sexuals on TV programmes. One such programme is Ipadikku Rose in Star Vijay TV. The host is a transsexual who brings controversial participants in the programme. This could be a person who has spent a jail term and is now reformed along with a police commissioner who has an altogether different view. In fact the tamil television channels have taken a lead in this direction. They have been able to get many transsexuals to come in and even perform in the variety programmes.

It is interesting to note that the audience have also slowly started to accept them. Traditionally, transsexuals and eunuchs have been looked down upon in India. For most of them getting a job is very difficult, this is not just because of a obvious resistance to them but also because of the way they have been portrayed. In north India for instance they are looked at as a nuisance. Whenever anybody marries, buys a new house or a child is born a group of eunuchs would gather asking for a minimum sum of money to be paid to them. The eunuchs in such cases are loud and dance in an obscene fashion, harassing the people of indecent exposure. Not surprisingly they are looked at as an irritant or nuisance.

As a journalist I have spoken to some of them and found that besides this tough and irritating exterior image there is a bitter individual who is forced to do things like this as he is not accepted by the society. Nobody would employ such a person. Obviously there is no easy way out for them. Joining a group such as the one explained before at least ensures that they get a square meal. Of course there are those who have been able to get a lot more than a square meal, but there are many others who are just about able make ends meet.

It is to the credit of the television channels that now they are able to bring such people to the forefront. Opportunities given to them ensures that more and more people start accepting them in the society.