Kanpur- In Kanpur district, members of the LGBTQ community will soon have easier access to government facilities through the introduction of Transgender (T) Cards. Anuj Pandey, founder of the Kanpur Queer Foundation, revealed this development to The Mooknayak, stating that officials from the foundation had met with Kanpur District Magistrate Vishakha Iyer to advocate for the creation of T cards. The District Magistrate has assured a swift issuance of these cards.

The T-cards, crafted by the Social Welfare Department for LGBTQ community members, currently lack sufficient data, posing challenges for those seeking government benefits. This data gap has resulted in the community being excluded from various schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, PM Swanidhi Yojana, and the Ayushman Card. With the introduction of the T card, individuals can then proceed to obtain essential documents like Aadhar Card, Voter ID, and Ayushman Card. The transgender population in Kanpur numbers around three thousand approximately.

Anuj Pandey emphasized that the Kanpur Queer Welfare Foundation was established to advocate for the rights of this community and elevate their voice. Despite ongoing efforts, LGBTQ individuals in Kanpur have yet to be fully integrated into mainstream society.

To address the issue of creating transgender certificates without medical examination, the National Institute of Social Defence, linked with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment of India, sent a letter to the District Magistrate. Following this, the Social Welfare Department will scrutinize all applications and complete the certificate-making process without the need for a medical examination.

Uttar Pradesh, as per the 2011 census, is home to 137,465 transgenders, though the actual number is believed to be higher. Recently, the state government conducted a survey on the community, but the findings have not been publicly disclosed.

Furthermore, recognizing the need for development in transgender colonies, the Central Government has urged relevant state departments to expedite infrastructure projects such as roads, water, and electricity connections. In response, a facility named Garima Grah has been established in Lucknow, the capital of UP, resembling an old-age home for elderly transgender individuals. This initiative aims to provide a comfortable and dignified living environment for this segment of the community.

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