In its meeting, held on 13th September 2022, the Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board, has decided to include the subject matter on transgenders in the state’s school syllabus. The board suggested the inclusion of the aforementioned topic in basic, secondary, and higher education, Dainik Jagran has reported. This decision has been taken to increase awareness of the common citizens regarding the issues related to the transgender community and to make them sensitive towards the latter. 

The Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board was established in 2021, to protect the rights and interests of transgender people. To ensure their inclusion in the state welfare schemes, the board was set up under the chairmanship of the social welfare minister of the state. Mr. Aseem Arun, the serving social welfare minister of Uttar Pradesh, made important announcements during the meeting. The Minister announced-

• The children from the transgender community can avail the Residential and Academic facilities in Ashram-style schools in the state.
• To increase the social acceptance of transgenders, awareness and training camps will be organized in schools, colleges, and workplaces.
• Websites, helpline numbers, and social media pages will be created for social awareness.
• The state officials are instructed to collect proposals from the interested NGOs for setting up “Garima Griha” in each district of Uttar Pradesh. Skill development facilities will be provided in such Garima Grihas for education, training, and employment.
• Transgender Security Cell will also be established at the district and state levels. Transgenders can freely register their complaints and grievances.

Earlier also the Uttar Pradesh government had announced initiatives, particularly for the transgender community. In April this year, the government announced dedicated wards for the transgenders in the government hospitals, issuance of ID cards for them under welfare schemes, and a proposal to hold a separate census for this section of the population.