Free ride likely for transpersons, diff-abled

CHENNAI: The differently-abled and transpersons have sought an extension of the free bus travel scheme, announced by Chief Minister MK Stalin for working women and women pursuing higher education, to include them as well.

Following the State Government’s announcement of free bus travel for women in the ordinary town buses, several people took to social media urging the Chief Minister to extend the benefit to transwomen as well.

Reacting to a woman journalist on Twitter, the Chief Minister assured that his government would soon decide on extending the facility to transpersons.

“It has been the practice of the DMK government since Kalaignar’s time to think of transpersons’ life in conjunction with women’s welfare and rights. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Transpersons, like women, will be considered for free travel and the appropriate decision will be made at the earliest,” the Chief Minister wrote.

In the case of differently-abled persons, DMK had promised in its manifesto to provide free travel along with one escort, pointed out Tamil Nadu Association for the Rights of All Types of the Differently Abled and Caregivers’ general secretary S Namburajan.

He also urged the CM to scrap Rural Development Commissioner’s April 19 order which prevents persons above 55 including the diff-abled from availing jobs under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.