In 2015, the Kerala government unveiled its much-awaited Transgender Policy, a first of its kind, envisaging to end the societal stigma towards the sexual minority group and ensure them non-discriminatory treatment.
State Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson unveiled the document of the ¡®State Policy for Transgenders in Kerala 2015¡¯ by handing over its copy to noted transsexual-gender minority activist Akkai Padmashali during the inaugural ceremony of the first International Conference on Gender Equality, which began at nearby Kovalam.
The state Department of Social Justice has issued the policy to enforce the constitutional rights of transgenders (TGs), taking into account the Supreme Court judgment (2014) and the findings of the recent Kerala State TG Survey.
Now, six years later, the amicus curiae appointed by the Kerala high court has found that the state government failed on multiple fronts to implement the provisions of the policy.
Even the most basic policy change to include separate toilets in public spaces has not been implemented, says the report.
The high court has now asked the state government to provide the details of measures taken to implement the transgender policy.
The high court took a suo moto cognizance of the appointed amicus curiae to study the problems faced by the transgender community in the state. The report pointed to the state's lackadaisical approach towards policy implementation.
The policy covers all the categories of TGs, including male to female TGs and intersex people. It also emphasizes the rights of the minority group to self-identify themselves as man, woman or TG as stated in the Supreme Court judgement.
It also ensures them equal access to social and economic opportunities, resources, and services, the right to equal treatment under the law, the right to live life without violence and equitable right in all decision making bodies.
It also recommends the setting up of a TG Justice Board with the state Minister for Social Justice as its chairperson.
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