Centre extends initiatives for development of transgender community
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New Delhi, Mar 17: The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has proposed a concept note for scheme of welfare measures for Transgender Persons. The Ministry has given funds to National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation (NBCFDC) in order to conduct skill development of members of the Transgender Community. So far, the corporation has sanctioned skill development training programmes for 330 members of transgender community to 7 Sector Skill Councils and Training Institutes.
Funds have been also released to the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) for implementing various welfare programmes like setting up of pilot shelter homes and conducting workshops. A composite scheme is being formulated for the welfare of Transgender Persons for which a concept note has already been submitted. Out of Rs 150.00 lakhs released to NBCFDC, Rs 118.05 lakhs have been used by the Corporation, so far, for providing Subsistence Allowance and ration kits to 6,940 persons during the COVID period.
At the same time, 16 health camps were also organized wherein 1,240 transgender persons undertook medical consultation. A COVID helpline was setup for providing counselling to distressed callers particularly from the transgender community during the lockdown period. According to the release of the Social Justice and Empowerment ministry, the NBCFDC also disbursed subsistence allowance of Rs 1500 per person, directly into the account of 5,711 Transgender Persons, who were left without livelihood due to COVID 19 lockdown.
According to the ministry's statement, the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD) is setting up of 13 pilots of Garima Greh (Shelter Homes) for Transgender Persons. In fact, one Garima Greh has already been inaugurated at Vadodara, Gujarat. Besides, the NISD has also conducted awareness generation programs on Drug Abuse Prevention for Transgender Persons.