Question : Welfare of Transgenders

(a) whether the Government has any proposal to enact any law for ensuring the welfare and development of the transgender community in the country;

(b) if so, the details and salient features thereof;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to ensure speedy implementation of Supreme Court judgement on transgender rights;

(d) the amount sanctioned and spent so far under various schemes; and

(e) the details of States that have implemented schemes for ensuring the rights of transgenders in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
(SHRI VIJAY SAMPLA)

(a) & (b): The Government has introduced a Bill titled "The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016" in the Lok Sabha on 02.08.2016. The Bill has been referred to the Department related Parliamentary Standing Committee for examination and report.

(c) The Hon’ble Supreme Court in its judgment dated 15.04.2014 in W.P. No. 400/2012 filed by National Legal Services Authority Vs Union of India and others has, inter-alia, directed Centre and the State Governments to take various steps for the welfare of the transgender community and also to examine the recommendations of the Expert Committee based on the legal declaration made in the above said judgment. An Inter Ministerial Committee has been constituted to pursue implementation of the Expert Committee’s recommendation. In addition, the Government has introduced a Bill “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2016” in the Lok Sabha on 02.08.2016.

(d) & (e): An Expert Committee was constituted in the Ministry to make an in-depth study of the problems being faced by the Transgender Community and suggest suitable measures to ameliorate their conditions. The Committee submitted its report on 27th January 2014. The recommendations of the Expert Committee have been forwarded to all the State Governments/UT Administrations for taking appropriate action. Presently, the Ministry is not running any scheme for the transgender community.