Transgender Senior Citizens Get Their Due: Railways Announces 40 Per Cent Concession In Ticket Fares

The Indian Railways has decided to grant 40 per cent concession to transgender senior citizens, Mint has reported. It publicised its decision on Thursday (27 December 2018). Fare concessions for a person of the third gender, aged 60 years or above, will be available from 1 January 2019 onward.

Prior to this announcement, the concession was given only for men aged above 60 years and women aged above 58 years. The rate of concession is 40 per cent for men and 50 per cent for women.

Indian Railways offers concessions on ticket prices to 53 different categories, ranging from 10-100 per cent. Students going on educational tours or their hometown can avail a concession of 50 per cent in second and sleeper class. However, students hailing from Scheduled Tribes can avail a concession of 75 per cent.

Candidates appearing for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) and Central Staff Selection Commission can also avail a concession of 50 per cent on the fare. Industrial labourers and farmers who are travelling to visit agricultural exhibitions can avail a 25-per-cent concession on sleeper-class and second-class tickets. Foreign students studying in India are eligible for a 50-per-cent concession in sleeper class and second.