04/12/2018 - Marginalized community

KEY POINTS

·       Transgender people have a gender identity or expression that differs from their assigned sex at birth.

·       Numbering approximately 5,00,000 as per the last count (2011), transgender people in India are one of the most visibly invisible population in the country. 

·       So they are subject to extreme forms of social ostracisation and exclusion from basic dignity and human rights. They remain highly vulnerable to gender-based violence.

Multidimensional approaches

·       Giving political rights to transgender throughout India, providing them right to vote through Election Commission of India.

·       The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016 needs to be passed in parliament. The Bill provides for inclusive education for Transgender Persons without discrimination on an equal basis with others and prohibits the establishments for discrimination against them in any matter relating to employment.

·       Give them training on Modular Employable Skills modules through Vocational Training Providers (VTPs) registered under Skill Development initiative (SDI) Scheme. The Self/wage employment oriented courses needs to be conducted under Skill Development Initiative Scheme (SDIS) to enhance their employment potential and increase their chances to earn decent livelihood as well as enhance their status in the society. 

·       They face extreme vulnerability to HIV, so proper medical treatment for them under National aids control programme is crucial without socio- economic, gender discrimination.

·       Odisha is the first region in the country to give transgender people social welfare benefits - such as a pension, housing and food grains - usually allocated for only the most impoverished. This kind of initiative needs to be replicated across states.

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