Monday, April 23, 2012
Third gender resorting to begging, prostitution
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2012\04\23\story_23-4-2012_pg11_8ISLAMABAD: The third gender in Rawalpindi are resorting to begging, and prostitution, after being hard pressed by spiralling inflation, as the people are no longer interested in hiring their services as singers and dancers to add colour to their happy occasions like weddings and circumcision ritual of a newly born boy.
During the day they beg while in the night they can be seen standing beside an illuminated pole along a busy thoroughfare to attract customers. Hence, the third gender in the city have apparently fallen on bad times. One can find a number of them asking for alms from motorists at busy traffic intersections going from car to car, clapping in their inimitable style and trying to win over a little money.
The third gender has, of course, always performed for money. But they had not so far been forced to beg. They would appear at weddings and births, and sing, even dance, and invoke God's blessings on the lucky couple or the newborn. How they manage to get wind of every birth and marriage in a locality has always been a mystery.
