Transexuals in India, traditionally known as hijras, are to be given their own category on voting slips and registration cards for elections.

In the past, this group has refused to vote because they did not want to fill in "man" or "woman" on the polling slip. Now they will be able to tick the “other” box.

The Indian electoral committee has taken the decision to accommodate the wishes of India's third gender. There are six million hijras in India. They are often referred to as eunuchs although relatively few have undergone genital operations.

Activists who have campaigned for the change for many years are pleased with the decision. They call it “a great step forward” and “a sign of real democracy”.

Photo: Hijra protests in India - Wikimedia/Arunreginald