Hassan said the social welfare department had already invited applications from recognised NGOs to conduct a survey of eunuchs to collect information about them before implementing the rehabilitation scheme.

The department also plans to engage some eunuchs to popularise the state government's women and child welfare schemes, an official said.

Eunuchs visit families on auspicious occasions across the state. 'Their visits would be more fruitful if they can be engaged to propagate government schemes,' the official said.

Last year, eunuchs in the state had formed welfare associations demanding the right to employment, marriage and child adoption among other things.

Referring to the position of eunuchs in the Mughal empire, Kali Hijra, a leader of the eunuchs, said they would be employed to guard the harems and some even became the aides of queens.

'We have suffered a lot for centuries and most of us live in abject poverty. We want restoration of our recognition on the pattern of the Mughal era,' Kali Hijra said.

(Imran Khan can be contacted at imran.k@ians.in)