Chennai, Dec 17 (IANS) A beauty pageant featuring transgenders would be organised here Saturday to sensitise people towards the rights of the community, an NGO official said Thursday.

Organised by ActionAid, UNAIDS and the Indian Community Welfare Organisation, this one of a kind competition is expected to see the participation of 150 transgenders from across the country.

Susan Thomas of ActionAid, India, said: 'Due to their unique identity, the transgender community has been at high risk of being infected with the HIV virus while also being at risk of sexual, physical and emotional abuse.'

'This is an attempt to make people aware of the community's talents and their need for basic rights like health care,' she added.

Besides the pageant, there will also be a photo exhibition, titled 'I celebrate me!'.

'The transgender community in Tamil Nadu has, through years of advocacy, made possible many policy interventions such as formation of a state welfare board for the community, identity cards and free sexual reassignment surgery (SRS) by government hospitals,' Thomas said.

'Yet, they continue to seek the right to live with dignity and as part of the mainstream. The exhibition and pageant seeks to assert their right of being a part of the mainstream and not being treated like objects of ridicule,' she added.