SUBSISTENCE ASSISTANCE TO TRANSGENDER

In view of Covid-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment will give transgender persons a one-time financial assistance of Rs. 1,500.

Important points:

• Immediate subsistence assistance to trans persons would be given through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), for which beneficiaries can register with the National Institute of Social Defence.
• NISD is an Autonomous Body and is registered under Societies Act XXI of 1860 with the Government of National Capital Territory (NCT), Delhi.
• It is a central advisory body for the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• It is the nodal training and research institute in the field of social defence.
• It currently focuses on human resource development in the areas of drug abuse prevention, welfare of senior citizens, beggary prevention, transgender and other social defence issues.

Major Initiatives :

• National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) v. Union of India,
• Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (2018
• Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019
• Establishes Natonal Council for Transgender persons
• Gives right to obtain Certificate of Identity.
• Provides the right of residence with parents and immediate family members.
• Prohibits discrimination against a transgender person in various sectors such as education, employment, and healthcare etc.
• Offences against transgender persons will attract imprisonment between six months and two years, in addition to a fine.
• Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, National Portal for Transgender Persons and the Scheme of ‘Shelter Home for Transgender Persons’.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES, MINT