Nagpur’s Vidya Kamble Becomes First Transgender Member Judge at Maharashtra Lok Adalat

Since 2014, when the Apex Court recognised transgenders as a third gender, a lot has changed for them in the country.

In passing the order, the apex court said that transgenders would be allowed admission in educational institutions and given employment on the basis that they belonged to the third gender category.

And in that spirit, Vidya Kamble has every reason to be jubilant. At 29, she has earned the title of being the country’s first transgender Lok Adalat member judge in Nagpur, Maharastra.

Vidya has had to battle many personal issues – making it this far by sheer determination. At the age of 17, she was forced to leave her home and family due to her sexual orientation. She found solace in the Sarthi Trust, which she calls her home now.

Currently working as a counsellor and pre-educator at Sarthi Trust, Kamble said mediation is one of her strengths. “My family abandoned me, but I found a new family which is not judgmental. It is one of the primary reasons why I sit on this esteemed chair today. Every day, I meet individuals who are troubled. Understanding their issues and helping them is my main job. Hence, I am able to work for reconciliation between parties and solve their matters,” she said, as reported in the Times of India.

Vidya will be a part of the 10-day pre-discussion talks of the mediating panel that aims at resolving issues between parties at National Lok Adalat.

The pre-discussion talk began in Nagpur on February 10.

With her on the panel are V S Murkute, retired district judge, and lawyer Rohini Deshpande.

“As part of the pre-discussion talks, Kamble handles issues related to Motor Acts Claim Tribunal and mediates around three to four cases every day. Murkute said such opportunities promote inclusion of the community in the conventional society and sensitise the public regarding the issue,” she said, as reported in Justice News.

We, at The Better India, wish Vidya all the best for this new role.

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