AMNMA, ATMA, ETA demand rights
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By Our Staff Reporter
IMPHAL, Mar 29 : The All Manipur Nupi Manbi Association (AMNMA), All Trans Men Association (ATMA), and Empowering Trans Ability (ETA) staged a protest today against the Trans-gender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was approved by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha recently.
Initially, the three associations took out a protest rally from Mao Market at Kabo Leikai Dewlahland upto Imphal Art College with the protesters holding placards bearing slogans opposing the Bill.
The protesters stated that they find the Bill unacceptable and announced their plans to file a petition against it in the Supreme Court.
After the rally, the protesters returned to Mao Market and continued their demonstration.
The protesters also burnt a copy of the Bill.
They later moved to Keishampat Leimajam Leikai Community Hall, where they carried on with their protest.
During the demonstrations, the protesters held placards with inscriptions such as "Our Identity is not a Medical Certificate", "We Reject Trans Bill 2026", "We are Nupi Manbi not Hijra, Kinner or Jogta/Jogti", "Manipuris Cannot Accept this Bill", and "We are not Criminals" among others. Speaking to the media on the sidelines, AMANA secretary Santa Khurai expressed concerns that the Bill aims to alter the legal recognition of transgender people and strips them of their right to self-identify.
The Bill narrows down transgender identity to specific categories, such as Hijra, Kinner, and Jogta/Jogti, she claimed.
While the Bill recognizes groups such as Hijra, Jogta, Kinner, and Aravani, it fails to acknowledge communities like Nupi Maanbi and Nupa Maanba, she said, terming this omission a “systematic erasure” of the State's socio-cultural realities, Santa explained.
She also questioned why transgender individuals should be required to appear before a medical board to prove their identity, calling this provision deeply unjust.
Arguing that the Bill violates the fundamental rights of trans people, Santa stated that they will file a petition against the Bill in the Supreme Court.
IMPHAL, Mar 29 : The All Manipur Nupi Manbi Association (AMNMA), All Trans Men Association (ATMA), and Empowering Trans Ability (ETA) staged a protest today against the Trans-gender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, which was approved by both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha recently.
Initially, the three associations took out a protest rally from Mao Market at Kabo Leikai Dewlahland upto Imphal Art College with the protesters holding placards bearing slogans opposing the Bill.
The protesters stated that they find the Bill unacceptable and announced their plans to file a petition against it in the Supreme Court.
After the rally, the protesters returned to Mao Market and continued their demonstration.
The protesters also burnt a copy of the Bill.
They later moved to Keishampat Leimajam Leikai Community Hall, where they carried on with their protest.
During the demonstrations, the protesters held placards with inscriptions such as "Our Identity is not a Medical Certificate", "We Reject Trans Bill 2026", "We are Nupi Manbi not Hijra, Kinner or Jogta/Jogti", "Manipuris Cannot Accept this Bill", and "We are not Criminals" among others. Speaking to the media on the sidelines, AMANA secretary Santa Khurai expressed concerns that the Bill aims to alter the legal recognition of transgender people and strips them of their right to self-identify.
The Bill narrows down transgender identity to specific categories, such as Hijra, Kinner, and Jogta/Jogti, she claimed.
While the Bill recognizes groups such as Hijra, Jogta, Kinner, and Aravani, it fails to acknowledge communities like Nupi Maanbi and Nupa Maanba, she said, terming this omission a “systematic erasure” of the State's socio-cultural realities, Santa explained.
She also questioned why transgender individuals should be required to appear before a medical board to prove their identity, calling this provision deeply unjust.
Arguing that the Bill violates the fundamental rights of trans people, Santa stated that they will file a petition against the Bill in the Supreme Court.