TN to prepare database of transgenders
TN to prepare database of transgenders
Statesman News Service
CHENNAI, April 21: Tamil Nadu government today decided to collect the details of transgenders and prepare a database with the assistance of NGOs.
This was announced by state social welfare minister Mrs Poongothai, during her reply to the demands for grants to her ministry in the Assembly today. The minister announced an allotment of Rs 50 lakh for constituting the board for welfare of transgenders and said the government was considering the nomination of members to the board.
The board would rehabilitate and achieve equality for transgenders in the community. It would look into the various problems, difficulties and inconveniences faced by them, Mrs Poongothai said.
The minister said 12 shelters had been started for street children, who were being provided food, non-formal education and vocational training under the Comprehensive Street Children Programme. She said 50 children had been admitted in each shelter. The government had also launched a project through the Indian Council for Child Welfare for prevention of child abuse.
“The status of women is measured in terms of Gender Development Index. It is 0.71 in Tamil Nadu which is higher than the national average of 0.59. Similarly, in nutrition level and in the care of the disabled, Tamil Nadu is way ahead of other states,” she said.
About 50,000 girls would benefit under the girl child protection scheme to prevent female infanticide, she said. Under the scheme, Rs 22,200 would be deposited in the name of the girl child, who would get the amount on the twentieth year of deposit, while receiving the interest every month.
About 3000 children had been saved by the cradle baby scheme, under which cradles are placed in government hospitals, social welfare offices and district collectorates to receive abandoned babies, the minister added.
