Complying with an order of the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC), the State Government on Monday decided to include the transgender community under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).
Sources said that nearly 14,000 transgenders across the State would be covered under the food security scheme now. The Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare Department has informed the OHRC about its decision to include the third gender under the NFSA.
In a significant order on August 4, OHRC Acting Chairperson Justice BK Mishra had directed the State Government to ensure inclusion of transgenders under the NFSA and extension of same benefits to them.
The commission had also asked the Chief Secretary and the Secretaries of Food Supplies and Consumer Welfare and Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Departments to submit their action-taken report within six weeks.
Rights activist Biswapriya Kanungo had moved the commission alleging that transgenders are certain to be deprived of the National Food Security benefits as the Government is yet to comply with the Supreme Court’s order of recognising them as the third gender.
Though the Act is set to be implemented from November third week, no effort is being made to include the transgenders in the list.
Under the Act, a beneficiary is entitled to receive five kg of food grains per month under the targeted PDS system.