Karnataka Trans Woman Seeks Euthanasia; Why?

Bengaluru: Dejected with life Rihana Irfan, 29, a trans woman from Karnataka’s Madikeri has sought permission for “euthanasia”. Her decision to seek mercy killing came after several failed attempts to find herself a government shelter where she could live her life with “dignity”, Rihana told News18.

“Two weeks ago, I wrote to the authorities to fix the date of euthanasia as I am unable to bear the mental suffering and humiliation,” Rihana said. “I had petitioned the local district administration several times to help me. All I had sought was a place in a government shelter where I could stay and earn my living with dignity. I went to them more than five times. Each time I was insulted and turned away. I live hand to mouth literally and I have to work every single day even if I am unwell. That is when I decided that I had had enough of this life and sent in my application for euthanasia. This too was rejected by the officer,” Rihana was quoted as saying.

Once, Rihana met a senior officer and broke down while explaining her plight, saying she had no option but to end her life. “The officer asked me to go ahead. That was the time I felt shattered and came out crying. I do not wish to die. But my circumstances have become such that death seems better. As the media has picked up my story, I am slightly hopeful,” the Karnataka resident told News18.

Rihana travels 25 kilometres daily from Kushalnagar, where she has been offered a place in a lodge, to Madikeri just to beg and earn a paltry sum that will help her sustain the day. “I want to live with dignity. I am ready to work. I believe that I should work and live with my head held high. I have studied up to 10+2 and could not continue my studies. I am sure that any work I take up, I will do it with utmost sincerity. But who gives a trans woman a job today?” she said, recalling her early life in Kerala’s Kozhikode, where she originally hails from.

Rihana moved to Bengaluru eight years ago and underwent sex reassignment surgery. She moved with the trans community from Bengaluru to Mysuru to Madikeri. Though she has a few friends in the trans community who help her, Rihana says that it’s the financial helplessness and lack of dignity for people like her that has got her morale destroyed.