Talks on in Armed Forces on possible entry of transgender persons, study group formed

Following this, the Army Adjutant General’s branch recently sought comments from its line directorates on the feasibility of employing transgender persons in the force, possible employment avenues, and the roles they could perform in the military.

According to sources, most of the directorates have already submitted their comments and suggestions, deliberations on which are at a preliminary stage.

It is learnt that a range of suggestions have been received, with some insisting on not providing any special concessions to transgender persons — if they were to join the military — in terms of training, rigorous selection standards, or postings in difficult locations, while others pointed to administrative and logistical difficulties such as their housing and other infrastructure.

There have also been questions about how they and their spouses, if any, would be identified in the military and their cultural integration with other serving military personnel, as and when they are inducted in a gradual and phased manner, an officer privy to the development told The Indian Express.

“The Act is an equal opportunity provider to the transgender community. However, employment in defence forces is selection and merit-based, which will remain equally applicable to transgender people if recruitment to the military is opened to them at any given point,” the officer said.

Another officer said multiple other issues will have to be factored in before any decision is taken. “The military cannot be looked at as just an employment opportunity. There are administrative challenges such as lack of housing and toilets, particularly in field locations where there is paucity of resources and space,” the officer said.

“Restricting their postings to only peace stations would cut opportunities for others after a field tenure,” the officer said.

Officials also pointed out that after the implementation of the contractual Agniveer recruitment scheme – which has also paved the way for induction of more women in the

Armed Forces – further major changes should be spaced out and thought through before implementation.

While no transgender persons are currently employed in the Armed Forces, a report presented by the Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice to Rajya Sabha on August 3 proposed that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) should consider extending reservation benefits to transgender people in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) while implementing measures for facilitating their recruitment.