SRINAGAR: The transgender community has been declared as ‘third gender’ and all the required steps are being taken to address the problems faced by the community, the union government informed the The J&K High Court on Friday.
The process for issuance of Aadhar cards to transgender persons by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDIA) is underway, the court was told.
Taking the submissions on record, the Court of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Rashid Ali Dar directed Social Welfare Department to inform the court about the admissions of transgenders in schools and colleges.
The court observed that it is the primary responsibility of every society that any marginalized community is not left to suffer in isolation.
“These people are from us and we cannot keep blind eye towards their miseries,” the court said.
Earlier, a policy for transgenders was finalised by state government in view of court directions and urgency to address the issues faced by the community in particular reference with NLSA judgement passed by Supreme Court.
A PIL filed in 2017 sought that the government must acknowledge transgenders as marginalised and vulnerable section of society and introduce reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. It also sought monthly welfare fund for them.
“The social and economic problems faced by transgenders are known to everyone and the way they are being left out by the families and the society at large is a narrative which needs to be changed. The primary aspect is that we are all human beings and they deserve the same rights as anyone else,” said one of the petitioners.
The petitioners sought construction of shelter homes for the transgenders as most of them are disowned by their families. They also pleaded for counselling centres, welfare boards and police stations for the transgender community for building strong civil society support to curb harassment against them.