Q) The formation of the National Council for Transgender Persons is definitely a much awaited move by the government for the LGBTQ, but there is still a long way to go. Discuss.
The National Council for Transgender Persons Was constituted in the year 2020 under the mandate of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019. it is led by the Union Minister of Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment as its chairperson and members from the various states, transgender community, central departments, NITI Aayog, National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Women.
Its aim is to mainstream the transgender community’s concerns focusing on livelihood issues as well as to raise awareness about the trans community for their acceptance at the family and the societal level. However there are still many issues that are faced by the transgender community in India. These include:
- Social exclusion
They are not accepted by their family and also at the societal level and have to live their lives in isolation as they are thought to be abnormal.
- Lack of respect
They are looked down upon in society considering them to be inferior to others. This leads to a lot of them living in disguise as males or females.
- Economic Disadvantage
Members of this community are not accepted in well respected positions in both public and private organisations and end up doing menial works. This often leads to them living in poverty.
- Education
Members of this community are also not accepted in educational institutions especially when they come out as transgenders. This is mostly the case with higher education institutions, thus leaving them educationally backward.
- Political Exclusion
Members of these communities are not represented at the political level Both at the Centre under state levels. This leads to their problems going unheard and unsolved.
This establishment of the National Council for Transgender Persons is definitely a forward moving idea and a milestone in the rights of transgender community in India. However looking at the above problems it is clear but the basic problem they face is at the societal level. to overcome this there is an urgent need for behavioural change programmes in the society in addition to the institutional mechanisms to bring them at par with the other individuals in the country.
