Odisha Unveils Transgender Policy To End Discrimination, Provide Equal Opportunities To Them

Odisha government has unveiled its policy aimed at ending discrimination and providing equal opportunities to the transgender community in the state.

The Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disability Department has issued the policy in accordance with the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 & Central Rules, 2020.

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The policy states that:

Transgenders are not be discriminated in terms of any position, training, promotion, transfer posting level.

That no opportunity is denied to transgenders, merely on ground of sexual orientation.

Transgenders should contact the complaint officer in any given location.

Any information obtained is voluntary, will be kept confidential, and will be used in accordance with applicable laws.

Refusal to provide information will not subject an employee or applicant to any adverse treatment.

Employees and applicants will be protected from coercion, information, interference, discrimination or relation for filling a complaint or assisting in an investigation under the Act.

Department shall designate one officer as Complaint Officer for redressal of complaints/ grievances of the Third Gender.

Facilities and amenities shall be provided to transgenders to enable them discharge their duties in the department effectively.

The complaint officer shall enquire into the complaints received within fifteen days from the date of receipt of such complaints.

The head of Department shall take action on the enquiry report submitted by the complaint officer within 15 days from the date of submission of the report

The Department shall take action forthwith in all cases where action has not been taken in accordance with the above time limits.

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Odisha leading the way

In 2016, Odisha had become the first state in India to include the transgender community in the category of below poverty line (BPL) beneficiaries.

In June this year, the Odisha Police Recruitment Board had opened the posts of constables and sub-inspectors in Odisha police to people from the transgender community.

In 2014, the Supreme Court had recognised the transgender community as the third gender and ruled that they have equal privileges over the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution.

The Parliament had also enacted the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 to provide the community with equal rights akin to other human beings.

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