A petition has been filed in the Hon’ble Madras High Court by a transgender rights activist, Grace Banu Ganeshan, seeking the order that directs the State Government to extend the cash benefits to transgenders that the State has already extended to ration card carry holders.
The petitioner argued before the division judge bench compromising of Hon’ble Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Hon’ble Justice Senthikumar Ramamoorthy that most of the transgender persons in Tamil Nadu do not possess ration card and also, they have not enough knowledge to use an online portal for getting the card.
The petitioner also argued that “the State has failed to consider the right to life and livelihood of socially and economically backward transgender persons who have lost their livelihood due to the Covid-19 lockdown imposed by the Central Government of the country.”
In response, the State submitted that they will consider sympathetically the matter pertaining to transgender and their request of giving COVID Cash Relief of Rs. 4000 to the transgender persons who are not holding ration cards.Lastly, the Hon’ble Court directed, “the State should take a step in such regard and should come to the aid of the transgenders who require immediate relief.” The matter is now put for the next hearing on 7th June, 2021.
