The Government has listed out several steps it is taking following a Supreme Court order last year directing it to recognise transgenders as the third gender and treat them as socially and economically backward. The apex court had also directed the Government to work out schemes for them.
Replying to a debate on a Private Members' Bill in Rajya Sabha — The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill 2014 — brought by DMK's Thiruchi Siva, Minister for Social Justice Thawar Chand Gehlot said that various Ministries have prepared plans for the benefit of transgenders and soon a national policy in this regard will be announced. Already a transgender welfare board is being planned in the Centre while States have been asked to come out with their welfare plans based on SC order. The Minister said that majority of the forms by Government now have columns for the third gender.
During inter-ministerial meetings several Ministries have given their plans to the Ministry of Social Justice. For instance, the Women and Child Development Ministry has decided to bring transgenders who live as women under the ambit of Protection of Women from Domestic Violence while transgender children will be given protection under various juvenile laws and Protection of Children and Sexual Offences Act. Similarly, the HRD ministry has issued advisories to schools and Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas to rework their admission policy in this regard.
The Minister claimed that the MHA is considering various IPC sections to prevent harassment of such people. The Ministry of labour and Employment has decided to bring transgenders working in unorganised sector under the health insurance cover of Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna.MEA is reworking its policy to give visas to those who write 'Other' as their gender. Already, MEA has issued first such passport in February this year.
During the debate, members cutting across party lines unanimously supported the Bill by Siva and urged the Government to take steps to bring the transgender community, facing social stigma and ostracism, into the mainstream.