05 April 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis

1. A people still waiting to move out of the margins

(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)

Importance of Transgender Day of Visibility

• Although laws like the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 exist, problems such as social stigma, discrimination, and economic exclusion continue.
• Transgender people face many challenges in education, employment, and health care.
• Real change requires proper policy implementation, strict anti-discrimination laws, and societal efforts.

Legal Recognition vs Ground Reality

• The 2019 Act aims to protect transgender rights, but poor implementation makes access to welfare schemes difficult.
• By December 2023, 24,115 people had applied for identity cards through the National Portal, but only 15,800 certificates were issued.
• Over 3,200 applications were pending for more than 30 days, despite the legal time limit.
• In Delhi, although the transgender population was about 4,200 (as per the 2011 Census), only 23 identity cards were issued by April 2022.
• The certification process is slow and complicated and does not address issues like police harassment or family rejection.

Economic Challenges and Employment Issues

• Transgender individuals face high unemployment and workplace discrimination.
• A 2018 NHRC report revealed that 92% of transgender people were left out of economic activities, often forcing them into sex work.
• A 2022 study showed a 48% unemployment rate among transgender individuals, compared to the national average of 7%-8%.
• Biases during hiring, lack of gender-neutral facilities, and hostile work environments are common issues.
• Although some companies have inclusive hiring policies, such efforts are still limited across industries.
• In 2024, a policy allowed LGBTQ+ people to open joint bank accounts and name partners as beneficiaries, but most still face financial exclusion.
• Solutions include diversity hiring, workplace inclusion, special financial schemes, and government-backed loans.

Barriers in Education and Health Care

• Education is key to empowerment, but many transgender students face bullying and drop out.
• The 2011 Census showed a transgender literacy rate of 56.1%, lower than the national average of 74.04%.
• In Kerala, 58% of transgender students left school due to harassment.
• Some states have taken steps like creating transgender cells in colleges and reserving seats, but national policies are lacking.
• In health care, 27% of transgender people were denied services due to their identity.
• Gender-affirming treatments are expensive, costing between ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh, with limited insurance.
• Although the Ayushman Bharat TG Plus card provides ₹5 lakh annual coverage, there are gaps in its delivery.
• There is also a shortage of trained medical staff and mental health support.

Need for Inclusion and Social Change

• Society must go beyond just visibility to real inclusion through education, media, and policies.
• Media often reinforces stereotypes instead of showing diverse transgender lives.
• Awareness campaigns, cultural festivals, and gender sensitisation programmes are important.
• Strong anti-discrimination laws, inclusive hiring, and financial support for transgender entrepreneurs are essential.
• True equality requires combined efforts from the government, businesses, and society to ensure dignity and inclusion. 

Read more 04 April 2025 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis