Madhya Pradesh Government to bring reforms in Transgender policy

Madhya Pradesh Government under Shivraj Singh Chouhan has set to bring up various reforms in transgender policy in the state. An array of reforms include legal assistance to rights of parental property, child adoption, promotion of mass marriages for transgenders, financial assistance for sex reassignment surgeries. The government will also implement laws against those who address transgenders by using derogatory names and decided to make stringent laws against transgender assaults in the state. The government schedule the newly planned law to come in to force at the end of November.

State Government has officially stated that "The new steps would be taken to provide the transgender community with employment opportunities in government offices and also sensitize officials, both police personnel and health workers, about them. The reforms in Transgender policy will provide financial assistance for sex reassignment surgeries in selected government hospitals and medical colleges to the transgender community. The state government is also planning to have helpline number and rehabilitation centres for transgenders in order to prevent assaults and trafficking.

Social Justice Department Minister Prem Sigh Patel clarified State's plan to introduce transgender welfare board to give equal rights to the members of a community. Government by the meantime proposes to amend laws for allowing them to adopt children as a single parent. Minister briefed about the plan by the state to employ transgenders in government offices. As per the policy, transgenders can have the family as the government has been organizing mass marriages.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, introduced by the Centre in July 2020 include provisions to safeguard them and protect the rights and livelihood of the transgender community. It details about the welfare measures given by the government, education, social security and health of the transgender person.

"This is an empowering move by Madhya Pradesh Government. But at the same time, they are in power for at least 15 years, what prevents them this long to take such a needful decision? This decision should have come before many years back. Transgenders in MP have been going a through a lot of atrocities. They have the right to claim the property from their parents. I believe that this move will help to overcome their present condition and improve their livelihood". Sachin Nagle, a Dalit Activist from Madhya Pradesh told Madhyamam.

He further adds, "Government has now set to give them legal rights. I cannot see the implementation of this move as a political move because every election in the state got over. The condition of transgenders here is very poor as just as other states. If the government provide them financial support for surgeries and other things, there would be an upliftment for them. The mentality of people should also change towards the transgender's government is giving them many rights but still, the people are not accepting them so it's necessary that government should give all the support to transgenders and at the same time people should also accept them".