The Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) has taken it upon itself to try and get the Chief Minister to take note of issues that affect the hitherto ignored transgender community.
The party had been approached by members of the transgender community and the LJP state president Jamil Ahmed has attempted to put them in touch with the CM.
“The community has been continuously trying to reach out to the state government regarding their problems and grievances but it is unfortunate to state that the state government has not paid any attention to them,” Ahmed said.
According to Kordor Lyngdoh Tron, the transgender rights are not being respected in Meghalaya. For example, community members find it difficult to get transgender identity cards as government officials ignore the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2020. Kordor also said that transgenders are harassed by the police, are discriminated against by the health services and that doctors, including psychiatrists and psychologists, lack knowledge of hormone replacement therapy.
Kordor, who is a member of the Transgender Social Welfare Justice Board, said that the body is “malfunctional” even though it was formed under the chairmanship of the East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner.
The state government has also yet to set up a shelter home specifically for the LGBTQ people, some of whom are banished by their relatives.
“Most of the transgenders who are well-educated have been rejected or discriminated against in employment. The transgender community is looking forward to the state government to bring in a policy for 7 per cent for reservation as mentioned in NALSA (National Legal Services Authority) judgement and on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2020 so that there should be not discrimination on the basis of gender identity,” Kordor wrote to the LJP.
