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Q. WHAT ARE THE HEALTH PROBLEMS FACED BY TRANSGENDER?

 HIV – Transgender people are 49 times more at risk of living with HIV compared to
the general population. Social exclusion, economic vulnerability and a lack of
employment opportunities means that sex work is often the most viable form of
income available to transgender people, and a high proportion of transgender people
engage in sex work.
 MENTAL HEALTH - Transgender are more predisposed to mental health issues
given that they are more likely to receive money for sex, have an earlier sexual debut,
and have a higher prevalence of HIV compared with men who have sex with men.
Forty-eight percent of transgender participants in one study suffered from psychiatric
disorders, ranging from alcohol abuse and dependence to depressive spectrum
disorders, but despite the presence of psychiatric disorders in participants, none had
ever had psychiatric consultation for these issues.
 SUICADILITY AND NON SUICIDAL SELF HARM- -A lifetime presence of
NSSI was identified in 46.3% of patients and 28.73% reported currently engaging in
NSSI (within at least the past few months). Analyses showed that those with a
lifetime presence of NSSI had significantly greater general psychopathology, lower
self-esteem, had suffered more transphobia, and experienced greater interpersonal
problems than those without NSSI. (NONSUICIDAL SELF- INJURY)
 TOBACCO USE- More than 30,000 LGBT persons die each year of tobacco related
diseases.
 VIOLENCE AND VICTIMIZATION- Another study by the human rights
campaign and the trans people of color coalition estimates that transgender women in
the united states face 4.3 times the risk of becoming homicide victims than the general
population of women.
Q. WHAT IS THE PRESENT SITUATION IN INDIA FOR INCLUSION OF
TRANSGENDER PEOPLE?

 The supreme court of India had recognized transgender as the third gender and had
also considered to give them the benefits available to OBCs.
 Transgender will enjoy basic human rights, including protection from violence and
discrimination.
 Before 2014, transgender had tethered access to education, health and health services,
public spaces, livelihood opportunities, obtaining passport, driving license, ration card
etc, while applying for bank account they had to tick male or female as there was no
option for third gender.
Q. WHAT CHANGES ARE BEING BROUGHT FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE IN
INDIA BY GOVERNMENT?

 Chhattisgarh police recruited transgender constables after Supreme Court declared

them as “ Third Degree” and ruled that they have equal privilege over the
fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.
 Since Transgender community falls under the OBC category, there is reservation of
14% in education as well as government jobs.
 Odisha has become the first state in the country to provide food grains, pension,
health, and education and housing benefits to this community, thus including them in
BPL. This step has been taken to empower the transgender community.
 The community is also entitled to 5 kg of food grains every month.
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 In the year 2014, the transgenders were recognized as a legal third gender by the
Supreme Court which ordered the government to provide the third gender with quotas
in jobs and education

Sadhna Mishra, Social Development Officer at #KISS becomes the first from Odisha
to be identified as transgender in the passport. This is the special victory for
transgender rights.

Q. WHAT ARE OPPORTUNITIES OF TRANSGENDER EDUCATION IN INDIA?

 CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF TRANSGENDER- These rights include the

right to vote, the right to own property, the right to marry, the right to claim a formal
identity through a passport and a ration card, a driver's license, the right to education,
employment, health so on.
 TRANSGENDER POLICY - Kerala became the first state in India to introduce a
comprehensive transgender policy. The policy intended to eradicate social stigma and
discrimination faced by transgender persons.
 FREE COLLEGE EDUCATION - Universities in India have begun offering a free
college education to transgender student
 TRANSGENDER WELFARE BOARD- Tamil Nadu, in particular, has a broad
welfare policy: Transgender people can access free housing and free gender
confirmation surgery in government hospitals. It was also the first state to form a
Transgender Welfare Board with representatives from the Trans community.
Q. WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF TRANSGENDER EDUCATION IN INDIA?

 INCLUSION IN SCHOOL/ COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY - it is challenging to

provide equal opportunity of education to transgender because there is a problem of
inclusion with male and female gender students.
 USE OF DISRESPECTFUL NAMES AND PRONOUNS.
 LACK OF ACCESS TO APPROPRIATE REST ROOM FACILITIES
 LACK OF IDEAL PERSONALITY
Q. CHANGES MADE BY CORPORATE FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

 Some Corporate in India have provided all-gender washrooms on all floors, medical
insurance that covers partners irrespective of gender, insurance that covers gender
confirmation surgeries, and an inclusive transgender and disability internship.
Q. AN OVERVIEW ON GOVERNMENT SKILLING AND LIVELIHOOD INITIATIVES
FOR TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

 249 schemes, from national and state governments, can potentially be accessed by
transgenders.
 43% of schemes in the Economic Development category list transgender persons as
beneficiaries.
 Among the Economic Development schemes, overall 75% of the schemes are for
livelihood support while 25% provide employment opportunities.
 Most of the livelihood schemes (9) provide interest subsidy or loans to set up
enterprises, skill development or assist in income generation.
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 Three schemes, one in Uttar Pradesh and two in Tamil Nadu, provide employment
opportunities. These include recruitment as teachers, police force or allowing for
Transgender persons to use the state employment exchange to search for jobs.
 At the national level, there is only the Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya
Yojana (DDU-GKY) that mentions transgender persons as beneficiaries.
 Tamil Nadu has a provision of Rs. 2000/- per month for every transgender for housing
and health measures.
 Transgender Community are eligible for old age pension of Rs. 1000/- per month in
Delhi State.

Tamil Nadu Govt. had established Aravanis Welfare Board and identified 4294
Kinnars. The Board has distributed ID cards to 3328 aravanis so far and Ration Cards
have been issued to 1544 Transgender, House Patta issued to 1053 Transgender, and
tailoring machines distributed to 102 Transgender, Insurance Certificate given to 660
Transgender Community people so far. Self Help Groups have also been formed and
Rs. 154 lakhs so far have been given as loan to SHGs. Further, 20% subsidy also has
been given to this loan amount.

Q. SURVEY ON WHETHER TRANSGENDER PERSON CAN LEGALLY CHANGE

THEIR SEX ON IDENTITY DOCUMENTS, SUCH AS GOVERNMENT ID
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CARDS AND DRIVING LICENSE.

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Q. GLOBAL ATTITUDE TOWARDS TRANSGENDER PEOPLE.

 Approximately two in five report referring to transgender men as ‘he’ and

transgender women as ‘she’, rather than using the pronoun used at their birth.
Approximately one in five would use the neutral pronoun of ‘they’. Americans are
most likely to report that they would use the pronoun of the transgender person’s
birth, with 22% reporting they would refer to a transgender woman as ‘he’ and 21%
reporting referring to a transgender man as ‘she’. Australia (13% and 14%,
respectively), Canada (14% for each), and Great Britain (12% and 13%, respectively)
were less likely to report using the pronoun of a transgender person’s birth.

Q. WHAT CHANGES NEED TO BE DONE FOR TRANSGENDER?

 We need to make medical services accessible to trans people, and have proper
provision for those who wish to transition (undergo gender-affirmation surgery),
which involves both physical and mental aspects,

 We need proper health insurance. Because the government is already taking so much
tax, they should be able to set aside a certain budget for healthcare for economically
backward trans people as well

 Having more concrete laws about policies such as identity documentation, banking,
property rights, and others, with regard to trans people, will certainly help as well

 There have been numerous instances of transgender people being murdered in India,
with no investigation carried out, or reparations paid.

 Having the required identity documentation and setting up bank accounts Facing
some level of discrimination, and having difficulty adapting to working in the formal
sector which involves time management and punctuality that many trans people are
not used to A sense of discomfort using washrooms Having trouble with inadequately
sensitised security guards while entering and exiting buildings Most workplaces not
having any procedures that accommodate trans people who transition while working,
leading to them eventually quitting

 The parents of the Transgender need to be counselled appropriately in order to treat

Kinnar children at par with other normal children.

 Authority should be given to Transgender Gurus for authorizing them to identify the
community members to enable them to get identity document as they don’t have
Birth/Father/Mother Certificates etc. She requested all to have a positive attitude
towards the Community.

 Special school should be established for Kinnar and provision of free education from
1 to 12 std.

 TGs who want to live in old age homes are given shelter in old age homes. They are
also given benefits in the states schemes like allotment of house/ land.
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 The Government of NCT of Delhi is in the process of launching a scheme of

Financial Assistance of 1000/- per month to the Kinnars who are living in Delhi at
least for 3 years. Food subsidy for Rs 600/- per month has already been started under
Dilli Annashree Yojna. The targeted intervention programme to deliver HIV
counseling & testing through 8 projects are operational in Delhi to cover 5200 TG
persons.

 Not only Eunuchs should be given priority and reservation in government jobs, but
also private institutions giving employment of eunuchs should be encouraged by
providing special subsidy on wages paid to eunuchs by private establishments. Some
seats should be reserved for eunuchs in legislature and in public-sector jobs.

 Eunuchs are forced by their ‘gurus’ to lead a life of servitude and bonded labourers. A
prayer has been made to ensure that the condition of eunuchs living as bonded labour
be ended forthwith under the provisions of the Bonder Labour System (Abolition)
Act, 1976.

REFERENCES
 https://www.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/pub-povertyreduction/Skilling%20for
%20Livelihood.pdf
 http://socialjustice.nic.in/writereaddata/UploadFile/Binder2.pdf
 https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/lesterfeder/this-is-how-23-countries-feel-
about-transgender-rights
 https://www.ipsos.com/en/global-attitudes-toward-transgender-people