Legal hurdles stall compensation to eunuchs

Compensation for the eunuch community which was affected in the wake of the Nand Nagri fire incident has run into a deadlock, with the Delhi government seeking the law department’s advice whether to recognise the mentor-protégé relationship amongst the members of the community.

Compensation for the eunuch community which was affected in the wake of the Nand Nagri fire incident has run into a deadlock, with the Delhi government seeking the law department’s advice whether to recognise the mentor-protégé relationship amongst the members of the community.

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However, according to sources, the law department, too, is of the view that compensation cannot be granted.

According to sources, even as the eunuch community has said that compensation should be given to the mentors, but the revenue department is of the view that there is no such provision under the law to grant them the same.

As per the law, compensation can only be granted to blood-relatives. An association of eunuch community has applied for compensation to the Delhi government.

The government had announced R2 lakh as compensation for relatives of the 18 eunuchs who died in a fire at a community hall, where they were holding a Kinnar Sammelan.

“We have examined the matter and are of the opinion that only kith and kin can be given compensation. We can’t hand it out to the mentors as is being demanded by the community. However, we have sent the file to the law department to get a final decision,” said a senior Delhi government official.

The eunuch community is planning to challenge this decision. “The mentors should be given compensation as they are like family for them. However, in some cases, the family members can be found, and if they want to get the compensation, we will not oppose that,” said Paritosh Mittal, a representative of the Sakhi Foundation, which works for the welfare of LGBT community.