Few takers for pension plan for transgenders

Pratibha Chauhan

Tribune News Service

Shimla, June 22

The scheme, launched by the state government, to provide the social security pension cover to transgenders finds few takers following a condition that they have to appear before a medical board and get the certificate.

The Congress government had extended the benefit to the small population of transgenders on May 27, 2016, with a view to granting them recognition and bringing them into the mainstream. Himachal was the third state after Tamil Nadu and Odisha to extend such benefit to the community.

“So far, not even a single person has come forward to avail the benefit because of the condition that is medical certificate,” confirmed an official of the Social Justice and Empowerment Department. The department has made efforts to publicise the scheme at the panchayat level but their plans to rope in prominent transgenders, who had become the face and voice of the community at the national level, have yet to be materialised.

As per the 2011 Census, the number of transgender in Himachal stands at a mere 2,051, which did not appear to be the true picture. The government was hopeful that once the community would be entitled to social security pension of Rs 650 per month, the real figure would emerge.

However, the mandatory condition of a medical certificate seems to have emerged as the major hindrance in the implementation of the scheme. “As per guidelines, the transgenders, who want to avail the benefit, can appear before the state medical board, comprising a gynaecologist and a psychiatrist,” revealed an official.

Considering the social stigma still attached to being a transgender not just in India, but even abroad, the decision could go a long way in not only granting them recognition, but also giving them an identity at the government level.

Himachal has taken the lead in North India in granting recognition to transgenders. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in 2013 that transgenders must be recognised as a category, there are a few states who have actually made effort in this direction.

Social activists said the plight of some transgenders, especially from the low-income category families, was rather pitiable. With no inheritance rights for them, it is a rather tough and gloomy existence.

An effort to Bring them to mainstream

• The Congress government had extended the benefit to the small population of transgenders on May 27, 2016
• The purpose was to grant them recognition and bringing them into the mainstream
• Himachal was the third state after Tamil Nadu and Odisha to extend such benefit to the community. 
• Not even a single person has come forward to avail the benefit because of the condition that is medical certificate