Bhubaneswar: In a landmark move to ensure equal employment opportunities, the Government of Odisha’s Department of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) has directed all state departments to include a “Transgender” gender category on all government job application forms.
This directive, issued by SSEPD Secretary R. S. Gopalan, is a significant step toward implementing the state’s welfare initiatives for the transgender community.
The order explicitly requests all departments to modify their examination rules and ensure that all application forms, whether online or in hard copy, provide a dedicated column, box, or option for “Transgender” applicants.
The directive also mandates that departments must report their compliance to the SSEPD for official records, reinforcing the state’s commitment to accountability.
This action is a continuation of the state government’s broader strategy to support the transgender community, which includes the recent formation of a State Transgender Welfare Board and the launch of a new scheme named “SWEEKRUTI.”
The board, headed by the Minister of Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, is tasked with formulating comprehensive guidelines for the rehabilitation and welfare of transgender persons in accordance with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019.
The “SWEEKRUTI” scheme focuses on a multi-pronged approach to address the challenges faced by the transgender community. Key strategies of the program include:
Survey and Identification: Identifying all transgender persons in the state and issuing them multipurpose smart cards.
Education: Providing pre- and post-matric scholarships for transgender students to combat low educational participation.
Employment: Offering skill development training, self-employment assistance, and support for Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Healthcare: Providing access to critical health care and group insurance.
Legal and Awareness: Offering legal aid and organizing community campaigns to protect the rights of transgender persons.
Odisha is the 20th state in India to establish a transgender welfare board. This new directive builds on a previous landmark decision in June 2021 when the state police began accepting applications from transgender individuals for constable and sub-inspector positions, a move widely praised as a step toward gender equality.
The latest order for universal inclusion on application forms is seen as a crucial measure to ensure that this progress is applied consistently across all government employment sectors.