Inclusive India: Government Introduces Ration Cards, Healthcare And Legal Protections For LGBTQIA+ Community

The Government of India has taken several measures for the LGBTQIA+ community.

Ration Cards And Joint Bank Accounts

An advisory from the Department of Food and Public Distribution allows partners in queer relationships to be considered part of the same household for ration cards.

Similarly, the Department of Financial Services has confirmed that there are no restrictions on queer individuals to open joint bank accounts or nominate partners as account nominees.

Healthcare

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued letters to all stakeholders to ensure healthcare access for LGBTQIA+ community without discrimination. 

This includes planning awareness activities, prohibition of conversion therapy, availability of sex reassignment surgeries, and mental health guidelines specifically tailored for the queer community.

The ministry has also framed guidelines for medical intervention required in infants or children with disorders of sexual differentiation (intersex) to enable a medically normal life without complications. It is already working on guidelines in service of the mental health of the queer community.

Efforts are underway to modify educational curriculums and conduct sensitisation programmes for various levels of staff in healthcare and other public services to reduce discrimination and increase understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues.

A provision to claim the body when a near relative or next of kin or family is not available has also been made.

For protecting the community's rights in potentially hostile environments, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued advisories to all states and Union Territories to safeguard the queer community against violence, harassment, coercion, and to ensure prison visitation rights.

Further, various ministries are in the process of issuing office memorandums and advisories to further implement these changes.

Consultations Driving Progress

The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment has actively sought the input of stakeholders and the public to ensure inclusivity in policy-making for the LGBTQIA+ community.

One such ‘Consultation on LGBTQIA+ matters’ was held on 25 July with representative members from the LGBTQIA+ community, central ministries, and states.

This was after a high-level committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary was established by the Indian government to recognise and define the rights of the queer community in April.

This committee, whose task is to provide comprehensive recommendations, includes secretaries of the ministries of Home Affairs, Women and Child Development, Health and Family Welfare, the Legislative Department as Members, and the Secretary of the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment as Member Convenor.

In various meetings that were held, a slew of issues were discussed based on which the government of India took several actions to benefit the queer community.

The latest review meeting was held on 22 August, pushing ministries and departments to immediately issue advisories pertaining to the queer community.