Health Minister Banna Gupta while speaking as the chief guest during the advocacy programme organised on health awareness in the transgender community in Namkum on Wednesday said that the State government is working from the point of view of human interest and work is being done for the progress of the State without discrimination in the society.
The programme was organised in collaboration with the National Health Mission and Utthan, an organisation working for the rights of the transgender community. Representatives of many organisations working for the transgender community, social workers, members of the transgender community and a large number of dignitaries were present for the programme.
Gupta also said that the government has completed the work towards making a prosperous Jharkhand, progressive Jharkhand and with this objective, future strategies are being prepared. The Health Minister also praised the work being done for the rights of the transgender community and encouraged the people of the community by reading the poem of national poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, 'Manav Jab Jor Lagta Hai Pani Bhi Patthar Ban Jata Hai’ and also one of his poems 'Manav Manav Ko Pyar Kare'.
Gupta also praised the struggles of the transgender community and said that there is no need to be disappointed and disheartened and that he is aware of the problems of the transgender community and is also trying to solve them.
Gupta further praised the work being done for the development of the transgender community by Tata Steel, an industrial unit that has made its mark all over the world from Jamshedpur. It is known that Tata Steel has provided employment to 133 people of the transgender community in its institute.
Amarjeet, who works in Tata Steel and is the secretary of Utthan, said that earlier they were seen asking for blessings at home, but times are changing rapidly as the transgender community has been given rights. People from the transgender community are now working and leading a respectable life in society.
A documentary film related to the work being done by the transgender community in various fields was also shown during the program.
Anima Kisku, State Program Manager of National Health Mission said that people from the transgender community are also a part of the general public and that it is the responsibility of all to bring them into the mainstream of society without any discrimination.
State Program Coordinator Akay Minj said that all citizens are treated without any discrimination in all government health centers. Sahia Help Desk is operated in Sadar Hospital of all districts, where people from the transgender community can request for treatment on priority. For health awareness and consultation, one can also seek advice on the free dial 104 operated in the State.
Sonal Tiwari an advocate of Jharkhand High Court who works for the rights of the transgender community said that the Jharkhand government has done three major works for the upliftment of the transgender community which includes a monthly pension of one thousand rupees, formation of transgender board and providing reservation facility to this community under the OBC category. Tiwari has also requested for a survey of the transgender community.
State Tuberculosis Officer Dr. Kamlesh Kumar, IPH Director Dr. John F. Kennedy also advocated cooperation for the progress of the transgender community. In the program, yoga instructor Dr. Archana Kumari taught the tricks of staying healthy through yoga while Shantana Kumari shared information related to stress control and mental health.
Present at the programme were senior Jamshedpur-based journalist and advisory committee member of Utthan Anni Amrita, social workers Apoorva, Poorvi Ghosh, Poonam, Dr Sangeeta Laha from RINPAS, ILS teacher Shalini Sabu, students of the Institute of Legal Studies, health aides from Ramgarh, Ranchi and Hazaribagh and others.
