Odisha govt prepares policy to protect rights of transgender

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has prepared a policy for transgender community which seeks to protect rights of the gender non-conforming child.

The draft Odisha Transgender Policy 2017  mandates that action will be taken against parents who desert such children while support will be provided to those who take care of specific needs of the transgender child.

The government will develop capacity of Anganwadi workers and staff of frontline child service providers so that they are responsive to the needs of transgender children.

Similarly, protection will be provided to students, staff and teachers of different sexual orientations and gender identities against social exclusion and violence within the school environment, including bullying and harassment.

The policy also entrusts responsibility on police to prevent violence and violation of their human rights. It says police must be sensitised to issues of human rights violation to ensure dignity, safety and security of the transgender people.