THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Pension will be provided to transgender persons who need follow-up treatment, Social Justice Minister K K Shylaja said here on Wednesday.
The Minister was speaking at a state-level awareness seminar on transgender rights organised by the Department of Social Justice.
Introduction of surgical facilities in two medical colleges of the state exclusively for transgender persons was also on the cards, the Minister said. Skill development programmes will be launched for people of the community with the aim of job creation.
Accommodation facility for them will be set up in Kochi. The Social Justice Department will give the people of this community special consideration and provide them jobs, Shylaja said.
“Transgenders need to be given equal rights in society. In addition to coordinated efforts by various government departments, awareness should also be created among family members of transgender persons and the society at large,” the Minister said.
Shylaja said urgent steps need to be taken to address the dropout of transgenders from schools.
Social Justice Secretary Mini Antony presided over the function. Social Justice Director T V Anupama, State Planning Board Member Mridul Eapen, Director of Public Instruction K V Mohan Kumar, Director of Health Services R L Saritha, Gender Advisor Dr Anandi T K and Gita Gopal were among those who attended the workshop.