Bid to bring LGBT in mainstream
With an aim to address the problems of transgender community, the ministry of social justice and empowerment held the first ever consultation meeting with the concerned ministries along with various experts and researchers.
According to senior officials in the ministry, the ministry has been graphing the information pertaining to these groups. “The ministry also need to get better educated on the issue through listening to the transgender and subject experts.”
The participants were asked to share their views and inputs on the things that could be done for the welfare of the community.
Mr T.R. Meena, joint secretary, pointed out that the ministry of social justice and empowerment will coordinate with other ministries and departments to mainstream them. “In olden days, kings were used to keep transgenders in palaces for various purposes,” he said, and emphasised that transgenders used to be considered a divine creation. “But today they are a highly marginalised population and face lack of respect and dignity. They live their life as untouchables and face stigma in their day-to-day life,” he said. He added that the nodal ministry is committed to change the mindset of the common public to be more favourable to the transgender community.
He informed that the governments of Sikkim, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu provide pension to this community.
The officials also emphasised on issues like enumeration, health, employment, identity, which they felt needed immediate intervention.
The meeting were attended by officials of the ministry of external affairs, ministry of law and justice and department of social defence, Chennai, department of social welfare and women and child development, Delhi, State Commission for Women, Maharashtra, department of social justice and empowerment, Sikkim and Madhya Pradesh governments, Mr Bal Krishna Shukla, MP, Baroda, Jamia Milia Islamia, Delhi University, JNU and key personalities.
working for the community.
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