Question : Scheme for Transgender Persons

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3292
TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2021

SCHEME FOR TRANSGENDER PERSONS
3292. DR. T. SUMATHY (A) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:
Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has not formulated the policy for the scheme for transgender persons despite previous budgets allocating money under this head since 2016-17 and utilizing money under this head since 2018-19;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) the time by which the Government is likely to formulate the above-stated scheme along with the reasons for allocating only Rs 20 crores under the scheme, ‘Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons’;
(d) whether the Government has undertaken any studies before finalising this amount and if so, the details thereof;
(e) whether Rs. 4.5 crores were utilised out of which Rs 1.50 crores was released to the National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) and Rs one crore was released to National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) in 2019-20 budget; and
(f) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the manner in which the Government spent the remaining two crores?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI RATTAN LAL KATARIA)

(a) and (b): The Ministry has submitted a concept note for scheme of Welfare measures for Transgender Persons. Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJ&E) has given funds to National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation (NBCFDC)for conducting skill development of members of Transgender Community. So far, the corporation has sanctioned skill development training programmes for 330 members of transgender community to 7 Sector Skill Councils and Training Institutes. Funds have been also released to National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) for implementing various welfare programmes like setting up of pilot shelter homes, conducting workshops.

(c): A composite scheme is being formulated for the welfare of Transgender Persons for which a concept note has already been submitted.
(d): No study has been undertaken for finalizing the amount.

(e) and (f): Out of Rs 150.00 lakhs released to NBCFDC, Rs 118.05 lakhs has been used by Corporation, so far, for providing Subsistence Allowance/ration kits to 6,940 persons during Covid period.16 health camps were organised wherein 1,240 transgender persons undertook medical consultation. A COVID helpline was setup for providing counselling to distressed callers from the transgender community during lock-down. NBCFDC also disbursed subsistence allowance of Rs.1500/- per person directly into the account of the 5,711 Transgender Persons left without livelihood due to COVID-19 lockdown.

National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) for setting up of 13 pilots of Garima Greh (Shelter Homes) for Transgender Persons. One Garima Greh has already been inaugurated at Vadodara, Gujarat. NISD has also conducted awareness generation programs on Drug Abuse Prevention for Transgender Persons.


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