The Hindu Editorial Analysis- 5th April 2025 | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

A people still waiting to move out of the margins

Why in News?

March 31 is observed as International Transgender Day of Visibility to highlight the issues faced by transgender individuals.

Importance of Transgender Day of Visibility

Although laws like the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 exist, problems such as social stigma, discrimination, and economic exclusion continue.

• Transgender people face many challenges in education, employment, and health care.
• Real change requires proper policy implementation, strict anti-discrimination laws, and societal efforts.

Legal Recognition vs Ground Reality

The 2019 Act aims to protect transgender rights, but poor implementation makes access to welfare schemes difficult.

• By December 2023, 24,115 people had applied for identity cards through the National Portal, but only 15,800 certificates were issued.
• Over 3,200 applications were pending for more than 30 days, despite the legal time limit.
• In Delhi, although the transgender population was about 4,200 (as per the 2011 Census), only 23 identity cards were issued by April 2022.
• The certification process is slow and complicated and does not address issues like police harassment or family rejection.

Economic Challenges and Employment Issues

Transgender individuals face high unemployment and workplace discrimination.

• A 2018 NHRC report revealed that 92% of transgender people were left out of economic activities, often forcing them into sex work.
• A 2022 study showed a 48% unemployment rate among transgender individuals, compared to the national average of 7%-8%.
• Biases during hiring, lack of gender-neutral facilities, and hostile work environments are common issues.
• Although some companies have inclusive hiring policies, such efforts are still limited across industries.
• In 2024, a policy allowed LGBTQ+ people to open joint bank accounts and name partners as beneficiaries, but most still face financial exclusion.
• Solutions include diversity hiring, workplace inclusion, special financial schemes, and government-backed loans.

Barriers in Education and Health Care

Education is key to empowerment, but many transgender students face bullying and drop out.

• The 2011 Census showed a transgender literacy rate of 56.1%, lower than the national average of 74.04%.
• In Kerala, 58% of transgender students left school due to harassment.
• Some states have taken steps like creating transgender cells in colleges and reserving seats, but national policies are lacking.

In health care, 27% of transgender people were denied services due to their identity.

• Gender-affirming treatments are expensive, costing between ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, with limited insurance.
• Although the Ayushman Bharat TG Plus card provides ₹5 lakh annual coverage, there are gaps in its delivery.
• There is also a shortage of trained medical staff and mental health support.

Need for Inclusion and Social Change

Society must go beyond just visibility to real inclusion through education, media, and policies.

• Media often reinforces stereotypes instead of showing diverse transgender lives.
• Awareness campaigns, cultural festivals, and gender sensitisation programmes are important.
• Strong anti-discrimination laws, inclusive hiring, and financial support for transgender entrepreneurs are essential.
• True equality requires combined efforts from the government, businesses, and society to ensure dignity and inclusion.

Practice Question:  Despite legal protections, transgender individuals in India face discrimination. Discuss key challenges and suggest measures for their meaningful inclusion. (250 Words /15 marks)