Chennai: Ever since she filed her nomination as a Chennai South constituency transgender M Radha (50) is busy on her door-to-door campaign as well as giving media interviews.
She is not a seasoned politician, but she says she can bring about change as she herself is fighting for many basic amenities. News Today speaks to Radha on as she embarks on a political mission.
“The campaign is going going on well. People are very welcoming. They come out of their houses to meet me and invite me to have coffee. I am overwhelmed. I have not faced any negative feedback or discrimination as of now.”
Radha was born and brought up in Chennai and has finished M A English literature and she can fluently speak in English. Radha by profession is a cook and the experiences she faced in life compelled her to join politics.
“When I completed class 12, it was very difficult to get a college seat as I am a transgender, I had to act like a man,” she says. “Even as there is awareness about transgenders, people still stare at us in public. That stare must not be there in the future. Now so many of us are in government and private jobs, even as sub-inspector and as advocates.”
Speaking about what she would do if she wins, she says places such as Velacheri, Saidapet, Mylapore and T Nagar face a lot of problems.
“Water is a major concern. There are water lorries going into houses of politicians while people are waiting with pots at public taps. Some cannot even afford Rs 40 for a can of water for drinking purpose.”
She also wants to build a complex for fishermen near the lighthouse instead of using the roadside for business. Also on her list is job and education opportunities, shelter homes for transgenders and homeless.
| M Radha, the lone transgender independent candidate has been allotted the ‘Mouse’ symbol for her campaigns. Having struggled with a gender identity, Radha has many developmental plans in her manifesto. She wants to wants to build a complex for fishermen near the lighthouse and also promises provide job and education opportunities for her constituency people. |