Transgender Bill passed in Lok Sabha amid uproar

The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, which aims at defining the transgender people and prohibiting discrimination against them, was passed with 27 amendments in the Lok Sabha on Monday. The Bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person in areas such as education, employment and healthcare. It also directs the central and state governments to provide welfare schemes for them.

Moving the bill, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Thaawarchand Gehlot said, it was a long-standing demand to bring a legislation to protect the rights of transgender persons and their welfare.

He said, the bill is aimed at bringing the community into the mainstream of the society. The Minister said, the bill has incorporated 27 suggestions by the Standing Committee.

Initiating a discussion, Shashi Tharoor said, the definition of transgender persons was at variance with the definitions recognised by international bodies and Indian experts.

He also said, the bill has a regressive outlook and there should be more discussions on it to make it a robust law.

BJD member Bhartruhari Mahtab also questioned the bill saying there is an incongruity in the Bill and ambiguity in its definition. Supriya Sule of NCP and Kakoli Ghosh of Trinamool Congress also objected to some of the provisions in the bill.

Replying to the brief debate, the Minister said, the bill has been brought after a detailed discussion and assured that he will try to incorporate the suggestions if any.

(Featured image: BloombergQuint)