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Jammu and Kashmir: Transgender community welcomes steps taken by Mehbooba Mufti government

The marginalised transgender community has a reason to smile after Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government announced a slew of measures to uplift the victimized population in the restive state.

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The marginalised transgender community has a reason to smile after Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government announced a slew of measures to uplift the victimized population in the restive state.

From treating transgender members living under below poverty line (BPL) to insurance cover, Jammu and Kashmir finance minister Dr Haseeb A Drabu included the measures for the community in the annual budget for 2018-19 which was presented in the Legislative Assembly at Jammu on Thursday.

“I propose every transgender shall be treated as living under BPL unless indicated otherwise”, said Dr Drabu.

Finance minister also proposed free life and medical insurance to the community members, which eke out living by dancing or working as match makers in the valley.

“I also propose, free life and medical insurance cover and a monthly sustenance pension on the pattern of old age pension scheme for all transgender people above the age of 60 years who are registered with the social welfare department”, said Dr Drabu. 

The transgender community is the highly victimised community in the strife-torn Kashmir. Most of the transgenders work as match makers to eke out the living in Kashmir.   Some of them are also working as folk singers and dancers and perform `Bache Nagama’ (a form of a folk dance where men or transgender are dressed as women). 

Most of the times the Bache Nagama is performed during the marriages and the wedding season in Kashmir is very small. The transgender community is left to fend for themselves most of the times and to sustain themselves they are doubling up as match makers.

“Budget has been prepared keeping in mind not only the people’s interests but both the short and long-term economic objectives of the state and an attempt has been made to further boost the tourism sector in the state besides providing benefit to the neglected class of the society including the transgender”, said Sajad Gani lone, Jammu and Kashmir Minister for Social Welfare and ARI Training and Science and Technology.

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