Lok Sabha Question No. 243 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-11-30
Subject: Improving Status of Transgender Population
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Pratima Mondal

## MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.243 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.11.2021

## IMPROVING STATUS OF TRANSGENDER POPULATION

## 243. SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

## Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the steps taken by Government to improve the status of Transgender population of the country;
- (6) the detail of Transgender persons employed in Government services, State-wise; and
- the   steps   taken by the Government to promote the participation of this  community in Government sector jobs?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI A. NARAYANASWAMY)

(a): In order to improve the status of the Transgender persons, the Ministry Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019" and provisions of the same came into force on 10th Jan; 2020. The   Transgender  Persons  (Protection of Rights) Rules 2020 were formulated and published in Gazette of India on 29 Sept, 2020.

On 21st 2020, National Council for  Transgender  Persons was   constituted to advise Government on policies,  programmes,  legislation and  projects with   respect to transgender persons: Aug;

The Ministry has launched National Portal for Transgender Persons on 2Sth November, 2020. Any Transgender   applicant can obtain Certificate of Identity and Identity Card without any physical  interface with the office of issue. The person who has been issued a certificate of identity to  change the  first  name in the birth   certificate and all  other   official documents relating to the identity of such person.

Ministry has initiated 12 shelter  homes   namely   'Garima Greh': Shelter Home for Transgender Persons and   provided financial assistance to community based  organizations (CBOs) for setting up of these   shelter homes. These pilot   shelter homes are in States of Nadu and Odisha. The main aim of these shelter homes is to provide safe and secure shelter to Transgender care, and recreational  facilities and also conduct capacity-building/ skill  development programmes for Transgender persons During lockdown period in COVID pandemic a helpline was also setup to provide psychological support through trained Psychologists to Transgender Persons in distress during Covid period. pilot

The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme "SMILE Support for  Marginalized  Individuals   for  Livelihood and Enterprise" \_ which  includes sub scheme Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons scheme is on rehabilitation,  provision of medical facilities and   intervention; counseling; education, skill development, economic linkages to the transgender persons.

(b): The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment does not maintain such information:

(c): Chapter V Section of "The  Transgender  Persons (Protection provides that "No establishment shall discriminate against any transgender person in any matter relating to employment including, but not limited to, recruitment, promotion and other related issues" . The Chapter VI, Section 14 of the Act also states that "the appropriate Government shall formulate welfare schemes and programmes to facilitate and support livelihood for transgender persons including their vocational training and self-employment" .

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