Union Government released Draft for the Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2015

The Union Government in second week of January 2016 released a Draft Bill, which proposes reservation benefits for transgender persons.

The Draft Bill, titled The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2015, was formulated by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Key highlights of Rights of Transgender Persons Bill, 2015

• The draft states that transgender persons who by birth do not belong to Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes may be declared as Backward Class. They will be entitled for reservation under the existing ceiling of OBC category.

• Transgender persons will not be prevented from competing for seats which are not reserved for them.

• The bill will provide for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national policy for ensuring overall development of the Transgender Persons.

• Transgender should be declared as the third gender, and a Transgender Person should have the option to identify as man, woman or transgender as well as have the right to choose any of the options independent of surgery/hormones.

• Only the nomenclature transgender should be used and nomenclatures like other or others should not be used.

• Transgender persons will also be issued a proper certificate for their identity by a state-level authority duly designated or constituted by respective the state or UT.

• Transgender students will be able to avail scholarship, entitlements, fee-waiver, free textbooks, free hostel accommodation and other facilities at subsidised rates.

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