Transgenders push for welfare board

Organised by the Centre for Legal AID and Rights supported by the United Nations Development Programme,the public hearing was one of the first in Gujarat. Around 40 members of the transgender community attended the day-long event along with around 12 experts and a four-member jury.

With the setting up of a welfare board,the jury also recommended that right to identity should be accessible and an implementation of crisis intervention programme should be done,which can facilitate the community in accessing lawyers,emergency services and councillors.

“In the day-long public hearing we have come across several issues which need to be addressed immediately. As per the recommendations,there should be documentation of transgender,a proper mapping of census and evidence sharing should be done,besides sensitizing the education system and exposing authorities to the diversity,” said Gohil.

“We also think that legal issues should also be sensitize for the benefit of the transgender community. Even working hand in hand with media will also aware people about the transgender issues,” he added.

The public hearing was inaugurated by Additional Director Family Welfare and Health Ministry B K Patel. In his address,Patel said,“Government services are for all equitable and free for all without discrimination.”

The jury also consisted of Dr Anjali Gandhi from Jamia Milia Islamia University,Director,Pathfinder International Darshana Vyas and senior advocate in the Gujarat High Court Girish Patel.

Anjali Patel,a project officer in the Lakshya Trust said,“We run many capacity building programmes and train people from transgender community so that they can work and stand on their feet. The most important point is,we face problems in getting an identity. All government applications include either Male or Female criteria. In my opinion,there should also be a column for transgenders.”