Dispur: The Assam government has taken a major step towards supporting the transgender community by officially recognising them as part of the Socially and Educationally Backward Class (SEBC). This move follows the Supreme Court’s directive aimed at including transgender individuals in welfare and development programmes.
After a Cabinet meeting on Sunday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision while addressing the media. He said, “In Assam, individuals belonging to the transgender or third gender community will now be officially recognised under a new provision. Following the Supreme Court’s directive, they have been granted SEBC status.”
The chief minister further clarified that this SEBC status will only be given to those who are permanent residents of Assam. Transgender individuals who have come from other states for jobs, education or other purposes will not be covered under this policy. “This scheme is intended exclusively for individuals who are native to Assam. Those from outside the state will not be covered under this classification,” Sarma added.
This policy comes as a response to the Supreme Court’s historic 2014 judgement in the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) vs Union of India case. The ruling directed both central and state governments to officially recognise transgender people as a third gender and include them in public welfare schemes.
With this move, Assam joins a small group of Indian states that have acted on the Supreme Court’s directive by granting backward class status to the transgender community.
The states that have taken steps to support the transgender community are: Tamil Nadu and Kerala who were among the first, offering welfare schemes, surgeries, and identity cards. Karnataka has reserved 1 per cent government jobs and recognised trans persons as a backward class. Odisha provides pensions and BPL benefits, while Maharashtra and Bihar offer housing, education and job reservations. Jharkhand also includes trans individuals in the backward class category.
