Maharashtra Will Be The First State To Set Up Transgender Welfare Board

The Maharashtra government has finally taken the big leap with its decision to introduce Transgender Welfare Board (TWB) in the state. With this inclusion, the state will become first in the country to have such a Board, the Mumbai Mirror reported.

The Maha Govt. will kick-start it by making a provision of Rs 5 crore for welfare of the community.

A good news for the transgender community, State to set up welfare board soon https://t.co/6HMLqTzj5F pic.twitter.com/pvxwJ1ah2Y

— Mumbai Mirror (@MumbaiMirror) February 4, 2018

The news agency PTI caught up with the Minister of State for Social Justice Dilip Kamble and he claimed that the Board will take up another month's time to be fully functional.

READ: Why 8 Transgender Workers have Already Quit their Jobs with Kochi Metro?

Maharashtra to set up transgender welfare board soon

It will look after education, employment, housing, and health schemes for transgenders and protect their Constitutional and human rights. Maharashtra will be the first such state to have such a Board. https://t.co/mDrOffOxze

— Amrita Bhinder (@amritabhinder) February 4, 2018

"Since welfare schemes for transgenders were implemented by Union Social Justice Ministry, all work related to setting up of the board and implementing welfare schemes for the community was transferred to the state Social Justice department on October 3, 2017, and an amount of Rs 5 crore was set aside for the purpose," he added.

READ: Ganga Kumari To Be Rajasthan’s First Transgender Cop

The Board will guide the community on education, employment, housing and health schemes. And ensure the transgender people have Constitutional and human rights protection.

"We want them to be treated honourably and see that they benefit from the government's welfare schemes," Women and Child Welfare Minister Pankaja Munde helmed while talking about bringing the community members into the mainstream.

READ: Meet Joyita Mondal, India’s First Transgender Lok Adalat Judge

The ideation of the Transgender Welfare Board goes way back in 2014. It was first conceptualised by the previous government. Further, in 2013, the cabinet heard the issue of setting up such a board and accepted the proposal. The implementation of such welfare schemes for transgender community were introduced to protect their rights and was mentioned in the third women's policy of the state government.

Also read: Weaving magic for transgender women: A unique initiative by a Kerala designer

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