Bill giving rights to transgenders to be tabled in next session of Parliament

New Delhi: A bill giving rights to transgenders will be tabled during the next session of Parliament, Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawar Chand Gehlot said today.

"We have proposed bringing an Act for welfare of transgenders. A special committee constituted for looking into this issue, has completed four meetings in which several matters were discussed. We will be introducing a bill for Transgenders in the upcoming monsoon session," Gehlot said addressing a press conference highlighting his ministry's achievements in the last one year.

The ministry is creating an umbrella scheme for the educational, economic and social empowerment of transgender community.

Noting that the Centre has filed a review petition seeking clarifications on the Supreme Court order on creating third category for transgenders, he said a private member bill, which was passed in Rajya Sabha, would be taken up for discussion in Lok Sabha in the upcoming Parliament session.

After 36 years, a private member bill seeking to protect the rights of transgenders was passed despite government's initial resistance in the Rajya Sabha in April.

Gehlot also said that the Government would bring the Rights to Persons with Disabilities Bill, which was sent to the Standing Committee in the upcoming monsoon session.

Though the bill was introduced in Rajya Sabha in 2014, it was sent to Standing Committee for further consultations. The Standing Committee submitted its report to Parliament last month.

This apart, a draft bill titled Persons in Destitution (Protection, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill has been circulated to state governments in April this year for comments to prepare a central legislation on the subject.