Karnataka cabinet approves transgender policy, sets 36-month deadline for execution
Transgender
The different categories of transgenders mentioned in the policy include "jogappa, jijra, female to male, male to female, inter-sex, kothis, jogtas, shivashakti and aravanis".
The Karnataka state cabinet in a landmark move has approved a policy for the transgender community aimed at amending laws that restrict their sexual freedom and providesocial security includingreservations in educational institutions and jobs.
The Congress-led government headed by chief minister Siddaramaiah has set a 36-month deadline for the implementation of the policy.
The state's law and parliamentary affairs minister TB Jayachandra said that the policy was formulated to ensure constitutional rights for the transgender community and proposes to eliminatediscrimination against them, reports said.
Jayachandra added said that the policy will cover areas of health, education, employment, housing, protection from harassment and abuse.
Jayachandra said: "They face insecurity, discrimination, insults, anxiety, suicidal tendencies. Therefore, this policy aims at bringing them into the mainstream of the society and provide them with a secured life."
The different categories of transgenders mentioned in the policy include "jogappa, jijra, female to male, male to female, inter-sex, kothis, jogtas, shivashakti and aravanis".
Jayachandra, quoting from the document, said, "All levels of the formal education system should have reservations for transgender students."
The policy aims to unveil schemes forself-employment grants, vocational training, free health insurance and reservation in housing schemes. It also plans to create awareness by counselling parents and children. The policy guidelines also intends to provide free healthcare for the transgender community.
The policyaims to amend section 375 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).