11 Times Kerala Stepped Up To Promote Transgender Rights
Kerala was the first state to have a transgender policy in 2015. They held the first ever beauty pageant for trans-women. Transgenders above 60 in Kerala now get a monthly pension. They also have a justice board for transgenders.
God's Own Country has always been a trailblazer. From being the first Indian state to achieve 100 percent primary education to controlling the population growth rate, and making it the lowest among all Indian states in the last ten years, they seemed to have achieved a lot more than the whole country put together.
But what¡¯s more impressive are their strategies and policies to elevate the status of the third gender in the state.
Gender and sex, to this date, are concepts many people don¡¯t comprehend. They either choose to ignore these ideas or just completely reject them. In India, and all over the world, transgenders still struggle to claim an identity. But the unique policies formulated in Kerala have made things a lot easier for them.
1. It was the first state to have a transgender policy in 2015
BCCL
The policy covers all the categories of transgenders, including female to male, male to female and intersex people. It also emphasises the rights of the minority group to self-identify themselves as man, woman or transgender as stated in a Supreme Court judgement.
2. They held the first ever beauty pageant for trans-women
BCCL
The Dhwayah Arts and Cultural society organised the first-ever transgender beauty pageant in the state.
3. A pension plan for the transgenders
BCCL
Transgenders above 60 in Kerala now get a monthly pension. State Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Issac made the proposal in the budget for 2016-17 presented in the Assembly as part of bringing the marginalised to the mainstream.
4. School for transgenders in Kochi
News Minute
In a first, Kerala opened a residential school for transgenders. At Sahaj International, students in the transgender community take exams under the National Open School System.
5. Free sex reassignment surgeries
Scroll
Government hospitals in Kerala offer free sex reassignment surgeries. A clinic in Kottayam Medical College opened its first on a trial basis in September 2017.
6. Justice board for the welfare of transgenders
BCCL
They also have a justice board for transgenders aimed at ensuring justice and equality for members of the community. It provides free legal aid to check discrimination and violence against them.
7. Kerala State Sports Council organised the first state-level sports meet
Logical Indian
100 transgenders from 14 different districts came to the state capital and took part in the sports meet.
8. India's first gender-neutral football league
Better India
On February 10, 2016, Mapila town of Malappuram witnessed a historic event when women, men, and transgender people rubbed shoulders to play football.
9. First to feature a trans woman on a magazine cover
Vanitha became one of the first magazines in India to have a transgender person on the cover.
10. Kochi Metro employed 23 transgenders
BCCL
Kochi Metro became the country's first government agency to hire transgender people; 23 are expected to be on duty for the inaugural run. It is also the first in India to have a workforce that comprises 80% women.
11. G-taxis
Midday
The state has pick-up and drop-up service taxis entirely owned and run by transgenders!
Way to go, Kerala!
