Various measures taken by Government for the LGBTQ care are as follows:

1. Department of Food and Public Distribution (D/oF&PD) has issued an advisory to all the States and UTs, that as per existing provisions, enabling partners in a queer relationship are to be treated as a part of the same household for the purposes of ration card. Further, States/UTs have been asked to take necessary measures to ensure that partners in queer relationship are not subjected to any discrimination in the issuance of ration cards.
2. Department of Financial Services (DFS) has issued an advisory that there are no restrictions for persons of the queer community to open a joint bank account and also to nominate a person in queer relationship as a nominee to receive the balance in the account, in the event of death of the account holder.
3. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued letters to all stakeholders including all States/UTs to take measures to ensure the rights of LGBTQI+ community pertaining to healthcare, planning awareness activities, prohibition of conversion therapy, availability of sex reassignment surgery, changes in curricula, provision of tele consultation, sensitization and training various levels of staff and making of provision to claim the body when near relative/next of kin/family is not available.
4. The Directorate General of Health Services, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also issued letter to the State Health Departments and other stakeholders on the subject of ensuring the health care access and reducing discrimination towards LGBTQI+ community.
5. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has framed guidelines in respect of medical intervention required in infants/ children with disorders of sexual differentiation (intersex) to have medically normal life without complications.
6. Ministry of Home Affairs has issued advisory to all states/UTs regarding prison visitation rights of the Queer Community and an advisory, on law & order measures to be taken to ensure that queer community do not face any threat of violence, harassment or coercion.
7. For the welfare of Transgender Persons, ‘The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019’ was enacted. ‘The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights), Rules, 2020’ were notified for implementation of the provisions of the Act. A National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) has been setup for advising Government on policies, programmes, legislation and projects for transgender persons. The National Portal for Transgender Persons was made operational to issue Transgender certificates and identity cards to the Transgender applicants. Transgender Protection Cells (TPC) have been set up in 13 states to monitor cases of offences against transgender persons and to ensure timely registration, investigation and prosecution of such offences. Transgender Welfare Boards (TWB) are also setup in 19 states for the purpose of protecting their rights and interests of, and facilitating access to schemes and welfare measures. Ministry has issued ‘Equal Opportunities Policy for Transgender Persons’ to eradicating discrimination, promoting equal opportunities, and providing a workplace that respects the rights and dignity of transgender persons.

This information was provided by UNION MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT, SHRI B.L. VERMA, in a written reply to a question in Lok Sabha today.

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VM

(Lok Sabha US Q311)

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