Presently the Government does not propose to constitute a National Level Welfare Board for Transgender Persons. However, an Expert Committee was constituted in the Ministry to make an in-depth study of the problems being faced by the Transgender Community and suggest suitable measures to ameliorate their problems.
The Committee submitted its report on 27th January 2014. The recommendations of the Committee, inter-alia, include formulation of an Umbrella scheme for rehabilitation, socio-economic & educational empowerment of the community, a State level authority duly designated or constituted by the respective States/UTs on the lines of Tamil Nadu Transgender Welfare Board, intensive publicity campaigns etc.
The Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment has constituted an Inter Ministerial Committee to pursue implementation of the Expert Committee’s recommendations.
The Supreme Court in its Judgment dated 15.04.2014 in WP No. 400/2012 filed by National Legal Services Authority (NLSA) Vs Union of India has inter-alia, directed Centre and the State Governments to take steps to treat transgender persons as socially and educationally backward classes of citizens and extend all kinds of reservation in cases of admission in educational institutions and for public appointments.
Subsequently, this Department has sought clarification in Supreme Court regarding, inter-alia, inclusion of transgender persons belonging to SC/ST category by birth into the OBC category. The matter is presently sub-judice.
This information was given by the Minister of State, Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Vijay Sampla in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha on Tuesday.