Explanation:

The Jammu and Kashmir administration has announced the formation of a transgender welfare board with a view to protect the rights and interests of the extremely small community that exists in the state.

An order by Principal Secretary (General Administration Department), Manoj Kumar Dwivedi stated that in terms of Clause 10 (1) of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020, a sanction is hereby accorded to the constitution of Transgender Welfare Board for protection of rights and interests of transgender persons thereby facilitating their access to government schemes and welfare measures in the Union territory of Jammu and Kashmir.

According to an official order from the administration, the 13-member transgender welfare board will be led by the Chief Secretary.

Apart from him, the administrative Secretaries of Home; Finance; Health and Medical Education; School Education; Social Welfare and Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Departments as well as the director general of social welfare in Kashmir and director social welfare Jammu have been nominated as its members.

In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, according to the data collected in the 2011 census, the total population of transgenders was 4137.

In order to safeguard the rights of transgenders in jails, the Centre had directed the states to ensure separate wards to protect them against any form of exploitation.

In this regard, an advisory by MHA stated that appropriate arrangements for providing suitable accommodation and facilities in accordance with their gender identity may be made in the prisons. A separate enclosure or wards for transgender inmates for transmen and transwomen may be ensured and also such enclosures should be separate from male and female wards or enclosure.

Four other distinguished persons were proposed for the board, two each from divisions of Kashmir and Jammu.