BY SUDHIR KUMAR
Government of India has decided to provide assistance of Rs 1500 to each Transgender person as immediate support to meet their basic requirements in view of COVID pandemic.
According to Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry this financial assistance will help the Transgender community to meet their day-to-day needs. It has asked NGOs and Community-based Organisations working for Transgender Persons to spread awareness about this step.
As the country is fighting with COVID-19, members of the Transgender community have been critically affected by the pandemic majorly because of serious disruption of livelihoods.
Any transgender person or Community-based Organisations on behalf of the Transgender Person can apply for financial assistance after providing basic details like Aadhar and Bank Account number. They have to fill a form, which is available on the website of the National Institute of Social Defence, an autonomous body under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
The Ministry had provided similar financial assistance and ration kits to Transgender persons during the last year lockdown. A total amount of over Rs 98 lakh was incurred which benefitted nearly seven thousand Transgender Persons across the country.
The Ministry said, a Helpline number 8882133897 has launched for mental health care of Transgender Persons. This helpline will be functional from Monday to Saturday between 11 am to 1 pm and 3 pm to 5 pm. On this helpline, counselling services will be provided by professional Psychologists for their mental health.
The Ministry has also written a letter to the Principal Secretaries of all states to ensure that there is no discrimination against Transgender persons in vaccination centers.