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Thursday, March 28 2024
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Cabinet okays transgender policy

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Bengaluru: The State Cabinet on Thursday cleared the transgender policy that aims to protect them from stigma, social discrimination and abuse.

The policy, which lays down measures to provide a conducive environment for transgenders to be integrated into the mainstream, will be implemented through the establishment of a cell for transgenders to initiate welfare programmes. It envisages counselling centres to address stigma, discrimination and violence, identification and certification, which is a critical aspect of being counted as transgenders besides legal support. Suggestions to improve employment avenues, health and education have been made.

“The State’s transgender policy is in line with the Supreme Court direction, which on April 15, 2014 directed all the States to come up with a policy to protect the third gender,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra told media persons.

“The policy aims to address the insecurities, anxieties and suicidal tendencies, and prevent harassment and atrocities on them,” he said, adding that just about 1,700 transgenders had so far registered under the Maithri scheme.

Among others, the policy seeks to provide reservation in all levels of education and has suggested trans-community to be included in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, RTE and similar efforts to promote literacy and reduce dropouts. It also seeks to have monitoring cell or committee at all educational institutions to address stigma, discrimination, sexual abuse and violence.

Suggesting specific corrections, the policy seeks to check portrayal of transgender community negatively in curriculum. It also seeks to have gender diversity in the syllabus, introduction of column of others for transgender identity, and certifications to be processed on time to change their name and gender in educational certificates.

Release of prisoners

The Cabinet has decided to recommend to the Governor for premature release of 93 prisoners, including seven women, lodged in various prisons across the state.

Of them, 41 are in Bengaluru, 17 in Mysuru and 13 in Belagavi. The remaining are lodged in Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Ballari and Dharwad.

“The Cabinet has decided to recommend to the Governor again as it had been rejected three or four times in the past,’’ Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs T.B. Jayachandra said.

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