NEW DELHI: In 10 months since the Covid-induced lockdown, the Centre has released Rs 98.5 lakh in aid for transgender people across the country.
Through the National Backward Class Finance and Development Corporation, Union ministry of social justice and welfare transferred a one-time cash assistance of Rs 1,500 to 6,940 people in 33 states, nearly one-fifth were from Tamil Nadu (1,036). West Bengal came next (814), followed by Chhattisgarh (624), Karnataka (561), Maharashtra (510) and Rajasthan (215).
In addition, ration supplies were provided to transgender people in five states — Delhi (720 beneficiaries, the highest), UP (280), Assam (94), Chhattisgarh (72) and Manipur (63).
“We launched this aid when the ministry officials were flooded with email requests from transgenders who we were already in touch with during stakeholders consultation for tabling Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill in 2019 and subsequent Transgender Persons Rules 2020. Many people who approached our ministry told that they had no food to eat during lockdown. It was then we decided to transfer this aid to them using direct benefit transfer or ration in some states,” said Union minister of state Rattan Lal Kataria, social justice and welfare.
A government official said only Aadhaar and bank account information was taken for this prompt aid from applicants through community-based organisations like NGOs or social worker groups for . Some applying, however, said the rules had not been clearly conveyed. “I got sex reassignment surgery done and did not have the certificate. The NGO I was in touch with insisted that I produce a gender change certificate. After grappling with 14 such NGOs, one finally understood that a certificate was not even needed. Finally, I got the money,” a transgender applicant from Tamil Nadu said.
The ministry later also launched a portal for registration of transgenders, which can be used to get certificate of identity and identity card through an end-to-end online process.
That allows self-declaration of gender, which could then be used for other official government schemes that will be rolled out soon.
The schemes that will be rolled out soon will include provision at state hospitals for gender affirming surgery, counseling and hormone replacement therapy to the transgender community, including all Male to Female (MTF) and Female to Male (FTM) procedures. Besides, state medical insurance shall be made to cover procedures of SRS, hormonal therapy, laser therapy, counselling and other health issues of transgender persons at private hospitals. Also, education curriculum in schools is being planned to foster respect for equality and gender diversity. Protection against ragging in the educational institutions with provisions for grievance redressal will also be mandated apart from facilitation of accommodation and schooling for transgender, gender non conforming and intersex children in residential government schools and universities.
Another potential applicant from Chandigarh ended up not claiming aid: “But I registered on the portal. We want to make sure we can avail schemes and benefits and no one harasses us, “
Through the National Backward Class Finance and Development Corporation, Union ministry of social justice and welfare transferred a one-time cash assistance of Rs 1,500 to 6,940 people in 33 states, nearly one-fifth were from Tamil Nadu (1,036). West Bengal came next (814), followed by Chhattisgarh (624), Karnataka (561), Maharashtra (510) and Rajasthan (215).
In addition, ration supplies were provided to transgender people in five states — Delhi (720 beneficiaries, the highest), UP (280), Assam (94), Chhattisgarh (72) and Manipur (63).
“We launched this aid when the ministry officials were flooded with email requests from transgenders who we were already in touch with during stakeholders consultation for tabling Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill in 2019 and subsequent Transgender Persons Rules 2020. Many people who approached our ministry told that they had no food to eat during lockdown. It was then we decided to transfer this aid to them using direct benefit transfer or ration in some states,” said Union minister of state Rattan Lal Kataria, social justice and welfare.
A government official said only Aadhaar and bank account information was taken for this prompt aid from applicants through community-based organisations like NGOs or social worker groups for . Some applying, however, said the rules had not been clearly conveyed. “I got sex reassignment surgery done and did not have the certificate. The NGO I was in touch with insisted that I produce a gender change certificate. After grappling with 14 such NGOs, one finally understood that a certificate was not even needed. Finally, I got the money,” a transgender applicant from Tamil Nadu said.
The ministry later also launched a portal for registration of transgenders, which can be used to get certificate of identity and identity card through an end-to-end online process.
That allows self-declaration of gender, which could then be used for other official government schemes that will be rolled out soon.
The schemes that will be rolled out soon will include provision at state hospitals for gender affirming surgery, counseling and hormone replacement therapy to the transgender community, including all Male to Female (MTF) and Female to Male (FTM) procedures. Besides, state medical insurance shall be made to cover procedures of SRS, hormonal therapy, laser therapy, counselling and other health issues of transgender persons at private hospitals. Also, education curriculum in schools is being planned to foster respect for equality and gender diversity. Protection against ragging in the educational institutions with provisions for grievance redressal will also be mandated apart from facilitation of accommodation and schooling for transgender, gender non conforming and intersex children in residential government schools and universities.
Another potential applicant from Chandigarh ended up not claiming aid: “But I registered on the portal. We want to make sure we can avail schemes and benefits and no one harasses us, “