Treat transgendered with dignity, Chidambaram urges people

Treat transgendered with dignity, Chidambaram urges people http://www.hindu.com/2007/07/29/stories/2007072960470600.htm

CHENNAI: Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday appealed to the people to treat the marginalised sections, including the transgendered, with dignity, as they were also citizens of the country.

Launching a health insurance scheme for marginalised women and transgendered here, he stressed the need for understanding their aspirations and creating awareness among these sections of their rights. Steering clear of all attempts to isolate them, the marginalised sections should become part of the mainstream. They should shed their inferiority complex and lead a dignified life.

Mr. Chidambaram commended the efforts of the Voluntary Health Services (VHS) and the Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative (TAI) for implementing an HIV/AIDS prevention programme in 14 districts as part of the efforts to motivate the marginalised communities to empower themselves through better health.

He also appreciated the multi-pronged strategy adopted by the TAI to ensure the welfare of the transgendered.

He referred to the yeoman service rendered by VimoSEWA, a Gujarat-based non-governmen tal organisation.

He released a short film on the initiatives of the TAI.

V.K. Subburaj, Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, who handed over the contract letter for training and manufacture of sanitary health kit, highlighted the AIDS control measures taken by the State.

The number of people affected by the disease had been brought to less than 0.5 per cent of the population from 1.13 per cent in 2001. The number of testing centres had also gone up from 280 a couple of years ago to 760 now.

TAI Project Director R. Lakshmibai said the organisation had initiated a pilot health insurance scheme for 1,000 marginalised women, including 350 transgender, in Salem district.

The insurance cover would be for a year starting from July 1. A total of Rs.2.95 lakh had been collected from the beneficiaries as premium at the rate of Rs.281 for adults and Rs.132 for children.

They would be provided insurance coverage to the tune of Rs.5,000 by ICICI Lombard.