CHENNAI: Education, employment, own house and a plea to open a separate column called ‘third gender’. These were a few major topics discussed by the transgenders at a meeting conducted by the State Social Welfare Department here recently.
Speaking at the meeting, which was chaired by B Valarmathi, Minister for Social Welfare and Nutritious Noon Meal Scheme, K Aruna, secretary Chennai Transgenders Association, said that old age pension should be made available to all the third genders above 40 years of age. She added that for easy access to government schemes, a separate column for third genders should be created on government websites. “The government has said the trangenders can apply for VAO post, but we cannot fill an application online, as there is no separate column for us,” she added.
S Noori, president, South India Positive Network, said that houses sanctioned by Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board under the direction of the government to 20 transgenders should be extended to all 260 people. The Minister promised them that their grievances would be solved at the earliest.