Topic: Salient features of Indian Society, Diversity of India.
3. The mental illnesses and challenges that India’s LGBTQIA+ people face need comprehensive and long-term solutions. Elucidate. (250 words)
Difficulty level: Moderate
Reference: The Hindu
Why the question:
During the recent celebration of Pride month (June) globally and in India, we witnessed an incredible social media presence filled with striking images and stories. It would not have been amiss to also pause and reflect momentarily on the state of mental health of LGBTQIA++ communities in India.
Key Demand of the question:
To write about the discrimination and injustice faced by the LGBTQIA+ community in India and long -term solutions needed for it.
Directive word:
Elucidate – Give a detailed account as to how and why it occurred, or what is the context. You must be defining key terms wherever appropriate and substantiate with relevant associated facts.
Structure of the answer:
Introduction:
Begin by stating that even though LGBTQIA+ people are given legal backing by abolishing section 377, they are still at the bottom of the hierarchy when it comes to basic human rights within the unit of family and society.
Body:
First, state that the social media campaigns and corporate ads for an inclusive society with respect to LGBTQI+ community have only been to a limited urban population. Many families especially in the rural areas are homophobic and transphobic and often treat people from the community to have some kind of psychological disorder.
Next, mention about issues such as forced rapes within families, admission into hospitals for change of sexual orientation, medical institutions admit people from the community along with other psychologically disturbed and conducting some psychological and sexual experiments, instances of suicides, families abandoning those who come out leading to financial insecurity etc.
Conclusion:
Next mention few NGOs and support groups that are trying to mainstream the cause of LGBTQIA+ community and create a truly inclusive society.
