Jharkhand government plans to provide monthly pensions to transgender community members.
The plan owes to the Narendra Modi government enacted “ the Transgender Person’s(Protection of Rights) Act 2019”.
The Act seeks to mitigate the stigma, discrimination, and abuse against this marginalized section and bring them into the mainstream of society.
Under the scheme, a pension of Rs 1000 per transgender pensioner per month. The aim is to help them lead to greater inclusiveness and will make Transgender persons productive members of society.
As per the Centre’s guidelines, the state women child development and social security department in Jharkhand has prepared a plan to be approved by the state cabinet headed by CM Hemant Soren.
After it is approved and transgender pensioners are identified, the sum of their monthly pension will be transferred to their bank accounts, according to a report published by Dainik Bhaskar, a Hindi Daily.
“A committee headed by the Minister of Social Welfare, Women and Child Development Jobs Majhi and Development Commissioner has approved this plan”, states the report.
As per the estimate, nearly 14,000 transgender persons will benefit from this plan. Since it did not figure in the annual state plan- 2023-24, it is expected to be approved by a supplementary budget proposal in the state assembly.
Notably, the word “transgender” – or trans – is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex assigned to them at birth.