Empowering Transgender community as Kerala govt includes trans people as 3rd gender option

Kerala left front government has announced programmes for the transgender community with an aim to uplift and bring them to the forefront of the society. K.K Shailaja, Kerala’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare recently announced this progressive initiative that will include special scholarships to transgender students and wedding grants to trans couple. 

“An order has been issued to add transgender/transwoman/transman in all application forms of the state government along with the options of female/male. This will help in the upliftment of the transgender community," Shailaja said.

READ | PIL In Delhi HC Seeks Recognition Of Transgender As 3rd Gender In NCRB's Prison Statistics

There was a need to give more care and consideration for the transgender community as they are an educationally backward group. Their everyday struggle made the Kerala government launch this scheme.  According to a recent survey, 58% of transgender students drop out of educational institutions without being able to complete even the basic education, the minister further added.

READ | Oommen Chandy Bags Key Role In Congress' Kerala Poll Campaign; UDF To Not Project CM Face

Kerala has become the first state in India to declare the Transgender Policy after the Supreme Court's historic verdict, which declared transgender people the 'third gender', affirmed that the fundamental rights granted under the Constitution of India will be equally applicable to them, and gave them the right to self-identification of their gender as male, female or third gender.

Government-aid under the programme

• A total of Rs 6 lakh has been sanctioned by the Social Justice Department in December 2020. The scholarship scheme is targetted for trans students from 7th class to post-graduation and professional courses studying in the government-aided educational institutions.
• The government had also declared that the financial assistance for the wedding of a transgender couple, Rs 30,000 each will be given to ten transgender couples.
• Rs 59,06,800 for HIV Sero surveillance centre of transgender people allotted by the Health Department 

READ | Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2021 Kerala Vs Haryana Live Stream, Pitch Report, Weather Forecast

READ | Kerala Has Lowest School Dropout Rate In Country: Minister