Says NHRC Chairperson, Mr Justice Arun Mishra chairing the NHRC Core Group Meeting on LGBTI issues
New Delhi,(Kalinga Voice) : “Despite the existence of human rights principles provisions in the Indian Constitution and other statutes, we have been unable to deliver justice to the transgender community. Everyone should be entitled to dignified treatment in all walks of life” said Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India Mr Justice Arun Mishra while chairing the NHRC Core Group Meeting on LGBTI issues. Furthermore, he stressed the need to create safe public spaces and unisex public restrooms.
Justice Mishra expressed serious concerns about the continuing discrimination against Transgender Persons in the country and said that prolonged psychological trauma, denial of parental care and emotional & physical abuse in educational institutions must be tackled. He focused on the issue of documentation of Transgender Persons that hinders them from availing of various government schemes, benefits and admissions in educational institutions.
Earlier triggering the conversation, NHRC Secretary General, Mr. D.K. Singh acknowledged the challenges the Transgender Persons face in the workplaces and the discrimination has adverse impact on their lives. He said that gender stereotypes in the workplace disproportionately impact Transgender Persons for not subscribing to societal norms about appropriate ‘feminine’ and ‘masculine’ appearances and mannerisms. He also added that the major challenge concerning Transgender Persons is the lack of source of income and further opportunities for financial independence.
Making a brief interjection, NHRC Member, Mr. Rajiv Jain said that focusing on entrepreneurial opportunities for Transgender Persons is also important. He said that spreading human rights literacy and promoting awareness through films and booklets is the need of the hour.
NHRC Member, Dr. Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Registrar (Law), Mr. Surajit Dey, DG (I), Mr. Manoj Yadava, Joint Secretaries, Mrs. Anita Sinha & Mr. Devendra Kumar Nim, NHRC LGBTI Core Group Members, NHRC Special Monitor on Transgender issues, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi and other senior officers of the Commission, apart from senior officers of Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Labour & Employment and National Institute of Social Defence were present, among members from civil societies and transgender rights activists.
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