Bhubaneswar: The State Government has decided to provide financial assistance for hostel facilities to the transgender (TG) students and to pursue their economic activities under the Sweekruti scheme.
The Social Security and Empowerment of PwD Department has moved a step ahead for the security and welfare of transgender persons.
Transgender persons are facing challenges in moving to places for education, training and employment as they don’t have the access to existing boys and girls hostels due to their limitations after acquiring self-perceived gender. They are also not preferred as tenants by house owners.
To overcome this barrier, the Government will provide assistance for hostel facilities for them. One-time non-recurring grant of Rs. 15,000 per inmate at the time of commencement of the hostel for purchase of furniture and furnishings will be provided, said SSEPD Minister Ashok Chandra Panda on Thursday.
The TG students pursuing education and staying in hostels will be given stipend towards meeting their hostel expenses at Rs. 3,000 per month each for the period of their education, subject to submission of recommendation of concerned educational institutions, he said.
The Minister said individual entrepreneurship for generating self-employment-based income including production, marketing, service centres etc. will be promoted by the registered transgender persons.
Projects not exceeding one time investment of Rs.10 lakh will be considered. Group endeavour for generating self-employment based individual income will also be encouraged, he pointed out.
However, the projects must ensure the object of providing individual income to the members of the group while projects not exceeding one time investment of Rs. 20 lakh will be considered.
Self Help Groups (SHGs) formed by transgender persons will be given one-time assistance of Rs.1.25 lakh for initial activities support and Startup Capital. Concerned District Social Security Officers will assist the TG people in getting benefits of these financial assistance.
Panda said that the Government recognises that transgender persons are valuable human resources for the society and seeks to create an environment that provides them equal opportunities, protection of their rights and meaningful participation in society.
The Sweekruti scheme for the welfare of transgender persons is now strengthened with provision of above Government assistance for their hostel facilities and economic activities, he added.
