Tiruchi Siva


Tiruchi Siva is a member of the Parliament of India representing Tamil Nadu in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament. He is from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam party, and was elected in 1996, 2002, 2007,2014 and 2020. He is a speaker and a writer.

Career

As a student, he was imprisoned for one year under the Maintenance of Internal Security Act during the Emergency of 1976. In 1978 he was an organizer for the DMK District Student’s Wing. Between 1982 and 1992 he served as the Deputy Secretary of the DMK Youth Wing and later serving as the Secretary of the same between 1992 and 2007. He was the Propaganda Secretary of the DMK.
Has written articles in the Party’s official organ Murasoli and other magazines

In Parliament

Historic Private Member Bill to Protect Rights of Transgenders

On 24th April 2015, Mr. Siva created history when he introduced a private member's bill, the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014, and after much discussion the Bill was put on a voice vote and was unanimously passed by the Rajya Sabha. This was the first Private member's bill to be passed by any house in 36 years and by the Upper House in 45 Years.The Bill was passed with the intent to help transgender people get benefits akin to those in scheduled castes and tribes, and in taking steps to see that they are not denied enrollment in schools or denied jobs in government as well as working to ensure they are protected from sexual harassment.

Fourth Term in Parliament - 2014-2020

On Women's Day 8th March 2018, Mr.Siva asked the Government to exempt sanitary napkins from GST net.
Raising a Special Mention in Rajya Sabha on NEET Exams, he raised the concern that the two bills passed unanimously by the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly which was sent for Presidential Assent was still pending with the Ministry of Home and Health which is a bad situation for the Federal Set Up of the Country.
Participating in the Debate on Passage of Citizenship Amendment Bill in Rajya Sabha on 11th Dec,2019, he strongly opposed the bill, raising several questions including why Minorities from Sri Lanka were excluded and why the Bill targets only Muslims which has created a sense of apprehension amongst the Mulsims in India.

On 10th Dec,2019, He was awarded the Best Parliamentarian of the Year at the Lokmat Parliamentary Awards - 2019.Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu presented the award for his exemplary contribution to Rajya Sabha.

Fifth Term in Parliament

On 2nd March 2020, he was re-nominated to Rajya Sabha by the DMK President M K Stalin. On 18th March 2020, Mr.Siva became the first DMK MP to serve a fourth term in Rajya Sabha.

Other Prominent Posts

He has also served as a member of the Court of the Jawaharlal Nehru University from September 2009 to May 2012 and was the Vice-President of the Parliamentary Forum on Artisans and Craftspeople from April 2013 to July 2013.

Membership in Various Committees in his Five Terms

First Term - 1996 - 1997
Second Term - 2000 - 2002
Third Term - 2007 - 2013
Fourth Term - 2014 - 2020