Pension, ration for transgenders as Andhra govt clears welfare policy

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh cabinet on Saturday approved a policy for the social upliftment of the state’s transgenders by offering them pensions, ration cards, housing sites and other assistance for business activities.

Under the policy, the government will provide ~1,500 per month to each transgender above 18 years of age as social security pension.

The government will construct special toilets in public places (malls and cinema halls) and give out scholarships and subsidised bus passes to transgender students.

The scheme will benefit some 26,000 members of the third gender.

“The government will also facilitate grant of loans by banks to help them start small business activities. It will also take care of their health by providing subsidised healthcare through Arogyasri scheme,” information and public relations minister Kalwa Srinivasulu said. “The cabinet discussed the policy in detail. Suggestions will be sought from people on how to improve it and incorporate any provisions so as to fine-tune it,” he added.

The policy was mooted in September after chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu launched Andhra Pradesh Hijra Welfare Board in April to look into the welfare of the community and prevent its members from sexual, mental, physical harassment, and social ostracisation.