Bill passed to protect transgenders' rights

New Delhi: The Rajya Sabha on Tuesday passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 by voice vote that seeks to provide a mechanism for social, economic and educational empowerment of transgender persons in India.

The bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment in relation to education, employment, healthcare, access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public, right to movement, right to reside, rent, or otherwise occupy property, opportunity to hold public or private office, and access to a government or private establishment.

The bill also seeks to provide rights of health facilities to transgender persons including separate HIV surveillance centres, and sex reassignment surgeries. The bill also has a provision of certificate of identity for a transgender person by making an application to the district magistrate for a certificate of identity, indicating the gender as ‘transgender’.

Elaborating on the provisions of the bill, the social justice minister  Thawar Chand Gehlot said that the bill is aimed at eliminating discrimination against transgenders and the government will form a national council for its implementation after the legislation is brought into effect.

Mr Gehlot added a transgender person will be able to avail the benefits of schemes offered by states as well as the Centre.

He said the recommendations and suggestions of the standing committee of the Lok Sabha have also been incorporated in the bill.

The motion to refer the bill to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha was moved by Tiruchi Siva of the DMK. However, it was defeated after voting took place. Mr Siva stressed that given the sensitivity of the issue and the insult, discrimination and atrocities inflicted on the community, the bill should be sent to the select
committee.

“We can wait for another six weeks till the next session for such a crucial bill’s scrutiny for slow and steady legislation to provide full justice to the community. The bill in the present form has several lacunae,” he had said.