In a welcome change for
the transgender citizens of India, the Lok Sabha took up for consideration a
private member Bill to end discrimination against transgenders on Friday.
Rajya Sabha created
history last April when the Bill was passed by it as it became the first
private member legislation in 36 years to be cleared by any House of
Parliament. If passed by the Lok Sabha it will become law. Moving the 'Rights
of Transgender Persons Bill, 2014' for consideration and passing, Biju Janata
Dal (BJD) member Baijayant Panda said: "We need to be compassionate
towards transgenders and end all kinds of discrimination."
The concerned Bill
provides for the formulation of a comprehensive national policy for ensuring
overall development of the transgender persons and for their welfare. According
to some estimates, there are about 25 lakh transgenders in the country, though
the actual number is expected to be much higher because of varied reasons like
discounting the transgenders living in remote parts of the country or those who
do not declare their status because of social stigma.
The bill would help in
extending constitutional rights relating to equality, right to life of dignity
and freedom of speech to transgenders who are discriminated in all spheres of
life. Lok Sabha had earlier rejected Shashi Tharoor's (Congress) private member
Bill on decriminalizing homosexuality at the introduction stage. Bharatiya
Janata Party (BJP) member Jagdambika Pal said there was no fault of
transgenders and they should not be ostracized by the society.
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