BHUBANESWAR:
Resentment is brewing among eunuchs residing near Vani Vihar as the
Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to demolish their
‘illegal’ settlement to facilitate expansion of the National Highway between Rasulgarh and Vani Vihar.

Apprehending displacement, the 120-odd eunuchs of Vani Vihar Hijra
Basti have threatened to resort to self-immolation if they are not
properly rehabilitated before the eviction drive. “We have already been
served with notices to vacate the land. We should be given houses to
stay,” said the secretary of All Odisha Hijra Association, Meera. The
eunuchs have been staying on the side of NH for the past 12 years.

BMC commissioner Sanjib Kumar Mishra said those evicted would be
rehabilitated at Niladri Vihar in Chandrasekharpur. “We have transit
houses where the displaced dwellers can stay,” Mishra said.

But
the eunuchs doubt whether the transit houses can accommodate all the
120 members. “The BMC officials have assured to provide us only seven
dwelling units. But how will the 120 members of our group stay there,”
said another eunuch Subham. “Our livelihood would be affected if we move
to Chandrasekharpur. All of us earn our livelihood by begging in
trains. The station is very far from Chandrasekharpur,” Subham said.