Transgender India: Barriers

  • International Transgender Day of Visibility: Highlights ongoing discrimination and violence against transgender individuals despite legal advancements.

  • Implementation Gaps in the 2019 Act:

    • Delays in ID card processing; only 65% processed by Dec 2023.
    • Bureaucratic certification hinders self-identification.
    • Lacks provisions for police harassment and family rejection.
    • In Delhi, only 23 cards were issued by April 2022 despite 4,200 population
  • Social Discrimination:

    • Rejection, bullying, and discrimination lead to poor mental health.
    • 27% denied healthcare due to gender identity.
  • Economic Exclusion:

    • 92% face economic exclusion (NHRC 2018).
    • 48% unemployment rate (ILO 2022).
    • Hiring biases, workplace hostility, lack of facilities.
    • Limited financial access despite joint bank account circular.
  • Barriers in Education:

    • Literacy rate of 56.1%, below the national average.
    • Bullying, harassment, and unsupportive environments.
    • Lack of a nationwide gender-sensitive curriculum.
  • Healthcare Access Issues:

    • Limited access despite National Health Policy and Ayushman Bharat.
    • Gender-affirming treatments are costly, with limited insurance coverage.
    • Lack of trained healthcare professionals.
    • Ayushman Bharat TG Plus has implementation gaps.
  • Need for Societal Change:

    • Address prejudices in families, schools, and workplaces.
    • Promote gender sensitization and diverse media representation.
  • Way Forward:

    • Enforce anti-discrimination laws, and inclusive hiring.
    • Support transgender entrepreneurs, and awareness campaigns.
    • Need workplace inclusion policies, diversity hiring, targeted financial programmes, and government-backed loans.
    • Promote gender sensitisation in educational institutions and workplaces.

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