Kerala hikes grants for transgenders
Kerala has given administrative sanction to set aside ` 50L
In yet another transgender friendly initiative, the Kerala government has increased the grant given to transgender people for sex reassignment surgery from `2 lakh to a maximum of `5 lakh.
Health minister K.K. Shailaja said an order to this effect has been issued. Through the surgery, a transgender person’s physical appearance and function of their sexual characteristics are altered.
The minister said administrative sanction has been given for setting aside `50 lakh for this purpose. The sex reassignment surgery from female to male is complicated and a series of procedures is required. In view of the high cost involved, the government decided to raise the amount.
The cost of surgery for male to female is comparatively less requiring a maximum up to `2.5 lakh. The government has sanctioned `25 lakh for such surgeries for five beneficiaries and an equal amount for reassignment surgery from male to female for 25 beneficiaries.
The amount will be sanctioned based on the report of the technical committee after the surgery.
Of the programmes being implemented by the social justice department to bring the community into the mainstream, the scheme providing financial grant for sex reassignment surgeries is one of the most significant ones.
There have been instances in the state when surgeries could not be completed due lack of funds.
“Considering the importance of reassignment surgeries among the transgender community, we decided to raise the grant,” added Shailaja.
Kerala was the first state to declare a policy with the objective of bringing the transgender people into the main stream of society. As part of the policy, the social justice department has come out with many innovative schemes for the welfare of the transgender community.
Last year the state government had set up a short-stay home for the transgender community in Thiruvananthapuram. The facility was aimed at providing safe accommodation for transgender persons undergoing sex change surgeries or other emergency situations.