RS makes history, okays private member bill on transgender

Bill comes after RBI tells banks to make provision for third gender in bank forms and applications

GN Bureau | April 24, 2015


#transgender   #Rajya Sabha   #legislation   #private member bill   #RBI   #supreme court  

After almost 45 years in legislative history, the Rajya Sabha on Friday passed a bill that seeks equal rights for the transgenders. The last private member bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha in 1970.

This bill comes a day after Reserve bank of India directed banks to include a separate column 'third gender' in all their forms and applications.

The Rights of Transgender Persons Bill 2014, moved by DMK member Tiruchi Siva, wants the government to take steps to bring the transgender community, facing social stigma and ostracism, into the mainstream. It provides for the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national policy to ensure the overall development and welfare of transgenders.

After the bill comes into force, there is expected to be strong legal provisions to prevent the abuse and violence towards the transgenders. A National Transgender Welfare Commission and a special Transgender Court have also been proposed in the Bill.

A private member's bill is a proposal given by an MP who is not a part of the government and Friday’s are reserved for such legislations.

Meanwhile, on Thursday the RBI had sent a directive to the banks to include a separate column 'third gender' in all their forms and applications. This will help the transgenders to open accounts and avail other banking services.

"It has been brought to our notice that transgender people face difficulties in opening accounts as there is no provision for them in the account opening and other forms", the RBI said.

"Banks are, therefore, directed to include 'third gender' in all forms/applications etc. prescribed by the RBI or the banks themselves, wherein any gender classification is envisaged," it said in a notification.

Last year the supreme court had upheld transgender persons' right to decide their self- identified gender and directed the centre and state governments to grant legal recognition of their gender identity such as male, female or as third gender.

Comments

 

Other News

On World Youth Skills Day, let’s ask: What will it take to retain Gen Z?

On World Youth Skills Day, observed every year on July 15, we’re reminded that the future of any economy depends on how well it invests in its youth. In India, where over half the population is under 30, the question of youth skills is not just about employment, it’s about meaning, wellbeing, a

Modi’s Ghana, Namibia visit a transformative chapter in India-Africa ties

Prime minister Narendra Modi last week completed a visit to five countries of Global South: Ghana, Trinidad & Tobago, Argentina, Brazil and Namibia. The objective was to reignite old existing partnerships and to project India’s leadership and influence in the Global South community. 

MoEFCC and CAQM launch ‘The Breath of Change’

To tackle air pollution in Delhi-NCR through public participation and creative engagement, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) have jointly launched a strategic communication campaign titled The Breath of Change.

India well on way to becoming a global IP powerhouse

Intellectual Property (IP) has evolved into a critical component of innovation and global competitiveness in India’s economy. As businesses pivot toward intangible assets like data, algorithms and branding, IP protection is no longer a matter of formality—it is a strategic imperative. The last

War and Peace: The conundrum of conflict in West Asia

Israel and Palestine have been the harbinger of troubles for the last 80-odd years. It is an unending and persistent saga of conflict and attrition which has bloodied the political, societal and economic turf in West Asia for long. The scale of wars, which were more than skirmishes of the day, ranged from

Trump’s tariff ploy sparks resistance from Global South

In the history of BRICS, never has any joint statement issued after a leader-level summit contained any remarks—directly or indirectly, against the US. However, for the first time, during the 17th summit of BRICS in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, leaders voiced their concern about America’s impositi

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter