![](https://www.nextias.com/ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/5882506Screenshot_6.png)
In News
- Recently, the Union government said that the Transgender persons will get yearly health insurance of Rs 5 lakh each under the Ayushman Bharat scheme.
About the recent decision taken
- Data:
- There are 4.8 lakh transgender persons in India who will be eligible for benefits under the scheme.
- Memorandum of understanding
- The National Health Authority under the Health Ministry signed a memorandum of understanding on this scheme with the Social Justice Ministry.
- Coverage:
- The insurance policy will also cover sex reassignment surgeries.
- More hospitals will be empaneled to provide sex reassignment surgeries. Provisions were being made to offer services at AIIMS and other hospitals.
- Health cards issued to Transgender persons will not cover their family members.
- Benefits will be extended to those holding a transgender certificate issued by the national portal for transgender persons.
- The scheme will cover all transgender persons not receiving such benefits from other centre/state sponsored schemes.
- The insurance policy will also cover sex reassignment surgeries.
- Change in Definition
- The government has changed the definition of the family to provide the total yearly coverage to transgender persons.
- Major Issues surrounding this decision
- Misleading figures: The 4.8 lakh figure is as per the 2011 census and only 2 percent of this number has been issued the certificate by the Social Justice Ministry so far.
- Few trained surgeons: Even if others are able to get their cards, the challenge is that sex reassignment surgeries are not offered by many institutions, and there are very few trained plastic surgeons in the country.
Challenges faced by Transgender Community:
- Discrimination and ostracisation:
- They face discrimination in employment, educational institutes, and within families which severely affects their overall wellbeing.
- Identity crisis:
- They are often forced to identify with a gender with which they are not associated at the workplace despite the government passing the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 which allows the community the right to self-perceived gender identity.
- Social Stigma:
- They often face difficulty in property inheritance or child adoption. Because of being socially ostracised, they are compelled to take up menial jobs despite good qualifications or forced into sex work.
- Unemployment:
- The community has limited avenues of employment and faces severe discrimination at work because of the associated social stigma.
- Lack of public amenities:
- They face issues with the accessibility of public toilets and public spaces. They often face problems in prisons, hospitals and schools.
Initiatives for Transgender Persons in India:
- Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019:
- The law passed by the Parliament aims to end discrimination against transgender persons in accessing education, employment and healthcare and recognise the right to self-perceived gender identity.
- Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020:
- It has been framed by the government to give effect to the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
- National Council for Transgender Persons:
- In pursuance of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, the National Council for Transgender Persons has been constituted to advise the Central Government on the formulation and evaluation of policies, programmes, legislation and projects for the welfare of the transgender community.
- Reservation for the transgender community:
- The Union government is planning to bring reservations for the community under the OBC category in employment.
- National Portal for Transgender Persons:
- It is a portal by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment which assists persons of the transgender community in applying for a Certificate and Identity card digitally from anywhere in the country.
- Through the Portal, they can monitor the status of their application which ensures transparency in the process.
- Garima Greh:
- The scheme aims to provide shelter to Transgender persons, with basic amenities like shelter, food, medical care and recreational facilities.
- Besides, it will provide support for the capacity-building/skill development of persons in the Community, which will enable them to lead a life of dignity and respect.
Way Forward
- Several steps have been taken by the government to implement a package of five assurances: Education, Life with dignity, Health support, Opportunities for livelihood and Skill Enhancement.
- Dignified life and livelihood: These steps have been taken to ensure that marginalized and disadvantaged sections of the population can emerge from restrictive social constructs by providing them dignified life and livelihood.
- Effective functioning: Though the state along with civil society must ensure the effective functioning of the council with respect to identifying the challenges faced by the community and redressing it.
- Social engineering: There is a need to sensitise the society that the community is a part of us and are co-equals.
- Sensitising the law enforcement: There is also a need to sensitise the legal and law enforcement systems towards the challenges of the community.
Ayushman Bharat PMJAY
Sex Reassignment Surgery
|
Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 Salient provision of the Act:
|
Source: IE
Previous article
GoI signs Headquarters Agreement with CDRI
Next article
Sickle Cell Disease (SCD)