Have Directed States/UTs To Ensure That Vaccination Centres Are Transgender Friendly Sans Discrimination: Centre Informs Loksabha

The Centre has also requested States/UTs to open vaccination camps for the Transgender community.

The Centre was responding to a query raised by DMK MP D. M. Kathir Anand regarding the measures taken by the Government to provide vaccination for COVID-19 to transgenders

Ministry also informed the Parliament that it has requested the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to take necessary steps in ensuring the vaccination of Transgender Persons without any hindrance and difficulty.

"An Advisory for Transgender Persons for generating awareness about Covid appropriate behaviour and vaccination was issued by the Ministry. This advisory is available on the official website of the Ministry (http://socialjustice.nic.in) and on the National Portal for Transgender Persons," the response reads.

Apart from this, the Centre also stated that a total of 64,374 Aadhaar have been generated for transgender persons to date.

"Transgender can enroll for Aadhaar and for this, UIDAI has made provision to select the Gender as Male, Female or Transgender as the case may be, at the time of enrollment," stated Centre.\

The Madras High Court last week directed the Tamil Nadu government to ensure that all transgender persons in the State are vaccinated within a period of 3 months. The Court was adjudicating upon public interest litigation (PIL) filed by transgender rights activist Grace Banu Ganeshan seeking the extension of cash benefits as well as conducting special vaccination drives for transgender persons in the State.