Over three years after it was first drafted, the transgender policy that aims to protect them from insults, social discrimination and abuse was finally cleared by the State Cabinet on Thursday.
The policy, which lays down measures to provide a conducive environment for transgenders to be integrated into the mainstream, will be implemented through the establishment of a cell for transgenders to initiate welfare programmes. It envisages counselling centres to address stigma, discrimination and violence, identification and certification, which is a critical aspect of being counted as transgenders besides legal support. Suggestions to improve employment avenues, health and education have been made.
“The State’s transgender policy is in line with the Supreme Court direction, which on April 15, 2014 directed all the States to come up with a policy to protect the third gender,” Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said, during his post Cabinet briefing on Thursday.
“The policy aims to address the insecurities, anxieties and suicidal tendencies, and prevent harassment and atrocities on them,” he said, adding that just about 1,700 transgenders had so far registered under the Maithri scheme.
In curriculum
Among others, the policy seeks to provide reservation in all levels of education and has suggested trans-community to be included in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, RTE and similar efforts to promote literacy and reduce dropouts. It also seeks to have monitoring cell or committee at all educational institutions to address stigma, discrimination, sexual abuse and violence.
Suggesting specific corrections, the policy seeks to check portrayal of transgender community negatively in curriculum. It also seeks to have gender diversity in the syllabus, introduction of column of others for transgender identity, and certifications to be processed on time to change their name and gender in educational certificates. Consideration of scholarship for trans-children, neutral uniform for all students and common toilets in educational institutions have been mooted. The policy also suggests free sex reassignment surgery (SRS) for transgenders. This would also include counselling and hormone therapy. Besides, it has also suggested creation of database of approved doctors and remedial centres based on the guidelines and seeks including of SRS in medical education syllabus.
Premature release of prisoners
The government will recommend to the Governor for premature release of 93 prisoners, including seven women, lodged in various prisons across Karnataka. Of them, 41 are in Bengaluru, 17 in Mysuru and 13 in Belagavi. Rest are lodged in Kalaburagi, Vijayapura, Ballari and Dharwad. “The Cabinet decided to recommend to the Governor again as it had been rejected three or four times in the past,” Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra said.
Next DG&IGP
A report on the service records, merits and demerits, and efficiency levels of five Director-Generals of Police has been submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who will take a decision on the next Director-General and Inspector-General of Police of the State. R.K. Dutta, the current DG&IGP will retire on October 31. Among those in the race are H.C. Kishore Chandra, Neelamani Raju, M.N. Reddi, Prem Shankar Meena and A.M. Prasad.
“We have classified the details of each of the five officials and placed it before the CM. We have not recommended any names and this is a procedure laid down in the Supreme Court judgement. Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy and I have forwarded the report to CM office a couple of days back,” said T.B. Jayachandra.
Meeting on Shravanabelagola
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will chair a meeting at Shravanabelagola on November 4 to discuss the modalities on how to spend ₹175 crore allotted to Mahamasthakabhisheka scheduled in 2018.
