Finally waking up to empower and uplift the transgender community, the Punjab Government has decided to chalk out a “collective inter-department strategy”.
All the departments have been directed to submit a plan of action report concerning their contribution and policies to move beyond the gender binary system. The move came in order to implement the Supreme Court directives on issues related to the transgender, and to redress the entrenched discrimination they have faced.
Divulging details of the Supreme Court’s recommendations, an official spokesperson said that on education front, transgender children will be provided with scholarships, fee waivers, free textbooks and other facilities at subsidised rates. Content on transgender as a concept and issues related to them will be included in school curriculum.
Educational institutions or universities will have to establish an anti-discrimination cell, sensitise students and staff towards the same while Aanganwadi Centers and Self-Help groups can help parents of gender non-conforming youth with necessary information, stated the spokesperson.
In the employment sector, the State will establish vocational training centres and a helpline for career guidance. loans at 25 per cent subsidies to facilitate venture setups and pension schemes would be initiated.To help cope with trauma and violence transgender face, State counselling services will also be initiated.As a recognized third gender, changes in official documents can be made after the age of 18 years and above, once certificate recognizing transgender status has been issued by a State level authority.
This will be done on recommendation of a district level screening committee headed by collector or district magistrate compromising district social welfare officer, psychologist, psychiatrist, a social worker and two representatives of transgender community.Disciplinary action will be taken against those who violate the human rights, dignity and right to self-determination of transgender community members. “State will support and collaborate with NGOs working towards transgender empowerment,” spokesperson added.“Sexual assault, harassment, gender identity based slurs, hate crimes and alleged excesses by police will all be covered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), said spokesperson.
“Punjab Government aims to bridge the gap between legal directives and social practices by ensuring that members of the transgender community are no longer relegated to the fringes of society but get uplifted and empowered,” added the spokesperson.
