Transgenders on Tuesday appeared closer to getting reservation in employment and education in the public sector with the National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) recommending their inclusion in the Central list of the OBCs.
The NCBC’s decision comes against a backdrop of a Supreme Court order, which has directed the Centre and States to treat transgenders as socially and educationally backward classes to extend reservation in admission to educational institutions and for public appointments.
The matter will now go to the Union Cabinet which will be required to approve the recommendation to enable the ‘Third Gender’ to avail itself of the benefits.
“The Commission today unanimously passed a resolution to accept the verdict of the Supreme Court and decided to recommend to the Centre inclusion of transgenders in the OBC list. Irrespective of their community background, all transgenders can avail themselves of benefits under the OBC list,” NCBC member S.K. Kharventhan told PTI.
Though the actual number of transgenders in the country is not available, electoral roll data of the Election Commission states that a total of 23,019 people have registered themselves under the “Others” category.
The NCBC, functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, received a letter from the Ministry seeking to look into the directions of the apex court. The Commission’s role comes into play since NCBC advice is necessary to include a community in the OBC list.
