Govt Set To Launch Portal Simplifying Registration And Giving I-Cards To Transgenders; To Also Build Special Homes

Having gotten passed the landmark Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act last year in the Parliament, the Government is now set to launch a simplified certification process to provide identity cards and special homes to transgenders in every State of the nation, reports Economic Times.

The Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment is set to launch a dedicated national portal which would equip transgenders to apply for an identity card to the District Magistrate, implementing the essence of the right to self-perceived identity as granted by the aforementioned Act.

The portal will mark the initiation of a nationwide exercise to identify all the transgenders, enumerate them, provide them with identity cards, and thereafter roll-out targeted social welfare programmes.

Secretary (social justice and empowerment) R Subrahmanyam said: “We are initially planning to open one home in every state. State governments would be actively involved in the projects.”

Apart from this, the Government is looking at opening a home for transgenders in each State. The first such home will come up in Gujarat's Vadodara. The Government has already asked the State Governments to send in proposals of such homes which can provide lodging, boarding services to transgenders, and also vocational training.

The policy also envisages private sector participation to remove stigma and enhance opportunities. As per the rules, every private establishment would have an Equal Opportunity Policy.