Joyita Mondal is the first Bengali trans woman who was a member of a judicial panel of a civil court and a social worker from West Bengal, India.[1][2][3]
Early life
Mondal comes from a traditional Hindu household and suffered a lot of discrimination in her childhood because of her gender identity. She dropped out of school after class 10th. After, she slept at bus stands and begged on streets.[2][3][4]
She moved to Islampur in Uttar Dinajpur district and worked for the upliftment of the transgender community. Simultaneously, she also completed her studies through correspondence and got a degree in law. In 2010, she was the first trans person from her district to get a voter ID.[2]
Mondal also started her own organisation, Dinajpur Notun Alo (Dinajpur New Light), that is currently reaching out to and helping thousands of people in her district.[5]
Career
Mondal is a member of the transgender community of West Bengal and works for the welfare and development of the community. In 2015, Mondal was involved with others in setting up a home for older people who were HIV positive and forming patients' welfare committees.[1][2][6]
On 8 July 2017, 29-year old Mondal became the first transgender judge of a Lok Adalat from West Bengal, India. She attended office as judge of a Lok Adalat at Islampur in the North Dinajpur, where some of her first cases involved the recovery of loans made by banks.[1][7][6]
References
