Immediate Subsistence Assistance to Transgender | 21 May 2021

Why in News

In view of Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will give transgender persons a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 1,500.

Key Points

• About the Assistance:
  
  • Immediate subsistence assistance to trans persons would be given through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), for which beneficiaries can register with the National Institute of Social Defence.
• National Institute of Social Defence (NISD):
  
  • NISD is an Autonomous Body and is registered under Societies Act XXI of 1860 with the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi.
  • It is a central advisory body for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
  • It is the nodal training and research institute in the field of social defence.
  • It currently focuses on human resource development in the areas of drug abuse prevention, welfare of senior citizens, beggary prevention, transgender and other social defence issues.
• Major Initiatives Related to Transgender:
  
  • Judgements of the Supreme Court:
    
    • National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India, 2014: The SC declared transgender people to be a 'third gender'.
    • Read down the Provisions of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (2018): The SC decriminalised same-sex relationships.
  • Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019:
    
    • A transgender person is one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. It includes transmen and trans-women, persons with intersex variations, gender-queers, and persons with socio-cultural identities, such as kinnar and hijra.
    • Establishes Natonal Council for Transgender persons.
    • Gives right to obtain Certificate of Identity.
    • Provides the right of residence with parents and immediate family members.
    • Prohibits discrimination against a transgender person in various sectors such as education, employment, and healthcare etc.
    • Offences against transgender persons will attract imprisonment between six months and two years, in addition to a fine.
  • Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, National Portal for Transgender Persons and the Scheme of ‘Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’.

Source: TH