Transgender in Kashmir brought under BPL facilities

Jammu, Jan 11: In a first, bringing a relief in Socio-political harassment and trauma of transgender in Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir government on Thursday announced Below Poverty Line (BPL) facilities for transgender community under which they will be provide cheap food-grains, LPG, electricity connections, IAY scheme etc. The transgender aged above 60 will get old age pension.
Pertinently, the transgender community time and again expressed disappointment over the non-seriousness of Government and Civil Society of Kashmir to address their issues.



In his budget speech Dr Haseeb Drabu spoke extensively for the poor and marginalised classes and announced Rs 1 lakh insurance cover to the BPL families. He said every transgender shall be treated as living under BPL unless indicated otherwise, adding, all the transgender in the state will be extended all the facilities that will be available to BPL which includes cheap food-grains, LPG, electricity connections, IAY scheme etc.
“Free life and medical insurance cover and a monthly sustenance pension on the pattern of old age pension scheme for all transgender people above the age of 60 who are registered with the social welfare department is proposed,” Drabu added.
KNB