In a first of its kind, two dedicated children homes for trans-community are likely to be set up by the end of 2022 as the Ministry of Women and Child has given a positive response, said state social welfare director, Ngangom Uttam.
He was speaking during the celebration of the 4th anniversary of Section 377 Judgement at Ya_All Shelter Space, Khurai Imphal East near NG Mani College.
The programme was organised by Ya_All in partnership with the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata.
Uttam said the people of the trans-community have been facing various problems in the society and citing the problems faced by trans-people while staying at quarantine centres during the pandemic. However, with the initiatives and support from the community the government opened a separate quarantine centre for the community, he reminded.
Similarly, children of the community are facing problems and when an orphan of the trans-community is kept in an ordinary common children's home, they are bullied, Uttam said.
Considering the problems faced by the trans-child, the department of social welfare sent a proposal to the ministry of women and child for approval to set up 2 separate designated children homes for trans-child - one each for boys and girls. The department received a positive response from the ministry and if the proposal is approved then Manipur will have 2 separate trans-children homes which will be first of its kind, he added.
Uttam said that in Manipur there are a total of 26 de-addiction centres under Government of India. Out of the total centres 3 (Three) are for women, 1 (One) for children and 22 are for men. He said that for the safety and welfare for the trans-community substance dependent, the government is also planning to set up a separate de-addiction centre for the community. Regarding the matter, the department had verbally talked with the secretary of the Ministry of Social Justice where the department has also received a positive response, he added.
As the people of the community are complicated, volunteers from the community will be needed to run such de-addiction centres, he said.
He also appealed to the trans-community to get transgender Identity card from respective DCs as getting the ID card will be the first step to get benefit from the government.
British Deputy High Commissioner to East and Northeast India, Nick Low, as chief guest said, “I am, by nature, a glass half-full person and I choose to celebrate the anniversary of India's repeal of Article 377 rather than lament how much we, as a global community, still do to end prejudice and discrimination faced by the LGBTQ+ community around the world. The decision of India's Supreme Court on 6 September 2018 was, and remains, a beacon of hope and a powerful statement that one of the world's great democracies love and value all its sons and daughters equally, I thoroughly enjoyed the deliberations and celebrations organised by our friends at Ya All in Imphal today.”
Founder of Ya_All, Sadam Hanjabam said, “Section 377 judgement is the step towards equality, equity and a life with dignity regardless of gender identity. Though small, it will definitely set a stepping stone towards future progression for the LGBTQ community. To live with dignity is a right and it should not depend on who you are or which community you belong to. We hope that this small event we had today will give a ripple effect for people in Manipur and India as a whole”.
DC, Imphal East, Daina Khumanthem also attended the function as dais member of the programme.
