India Recognizes Eunuchs as 'Others'

India's eunuchs and transsexuals have won a long-running campaign to be listed as "others," distinct from males and females, on electoral rolls and voter identity cards, AFP reports .

The formal recognition was confirmed by the Election Commission, which said it had received representation from various individuals and interest groups on the subject.

"The inclusion of eunuchs and transgenders as 'others' gives us a separate identity which is what we have always wanted," said Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, a prominent eunuch activist and founder of campaign group Astitva. "This is a sign of a true democracy."

Previously, eunuchs were forced to mark their gender on ballot forms as either male or female.

There are about 500,000 eunuchs in India. Known as hijras, they comprise the hermaphrodite, transvestite and transsexual communities.

Eunuchs have been in existence since the 9th Century BC. The historical definition of eunuchs divides them into two categories -- those who castrate themselves voluntarily for religious reasons and those who are castrated by others either as a punishment or in order to create an individual who is significantly different from a whole man.

India is the only country where the tradition of eunuchs is prevalent today .