In an update to this, the Indian Parliament is currently discussing a bill that would essentially reverse this. It would take away the right to self-identification, leaving trans women, men and non binary people vulnerable and excluded from the definition of transgender. It would only include socio-cultural identities like hijra and kinnar, among a few others. This would also put trans shelters or individuals helping trans youth under risk of being accused of forcing them to transition. This will be an extremely regressive step for the trans communities in India, leaving us excluded from our own identities and extremely unsafe. This bill is also to be discussed in the Parliament during this week, and will soon be voted upon in the Lok Sabha.
If you are in India, you can take simple actions like mailing your MPs regarding this, showing your dissent. You can share information on social media and talk to those around you about this, to make them aware. You can also attend the various protests and press conferences taking place in states like Delhi, Kolkata, Pune, Bangalore and many others.
There's a long fight ahead and we must stick with each other as the queer community of India, where our voices are being silenced every day. but we will NOT be quiet. we will NOT tolerate this. and we will NOT let our identities be stolen.