<p>The Nitish regime in Bihar has decided to not only accord EBC (extremely backward class) status to transgenders, but also set up a welfare board for them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The move will help the third gender, commonly known as hijras, avail quota in state government jobs and educational institutions.<br /><br />The welfare board, which is likely to be known as Kinnar Kalyan Board, will consist of 21 members from the government side and nine members from the third gender community.<br /><br />The government’s step is in accordance with the apex court ruling in 2014 where in the Supreme Court had ruled that transgenders were entitled to all fundamental rights, reservation in jobs and education.<br /><br />The SC in 2014 had accorded legal recognition to transgenders as a “third gender” and asked the Centre to treat transgenders as socially and economically backward.“The third gender will be provided reservations in government jobs,” said Bihar’s Social Welfare Minister, Manju Verma. She also added that the government was mulling over the proposal to provide financial help to such individuals from the transgender community who opt for sex change. <br /><br />In its previous avatar, the Nitish regime had issued an advertisement inviting applications from qualified non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct a survey of eunuchs. The primary aim was to bring the third gender into the mainstream. The survey was the first step towards the implementation of their rehabilitation plan.<br /><br />These eunuchs, after being identified, were supposed to be imparted vocational training to facilitate their socio-economic rehabilitation. Those covered under the scheme were supposed to be trained as per their aptitude and interest for employment as cooks, drivers and security guards in residential complexes. But the plan remained a non-starter.<br /><br />Prior to this, the Bihar Government had decided to use the services of ‘third gender’ as ‘tax collector’. </p>
<p>The Nitish regime in Bihar has decided to not only accord EBC (extremely backward class) status to transgenders, but also set up a welfare board for them.<br /><br /></p>.<p>The move will help the third gender, commonly known as hijras, avail quota in state government jobs and educational institutions.<br /><br />The welfare board, which is likely to be known as Kinnar Kalyan Board, will consist of 21 members from the government side and nine members from the third gender community.<br /><br />The government’s step is in accordance with the apex court ruling in 2014 where in the Supreme Court had ruled that transgenders were entitled to all fundamental rights, reservation in jobs and education.<br /><br />The SC in 2014 had accorded legal recognition to transgenders as a “third gender” and asked the Centre to treat transgenders as socially and economically backward.“The third gender will be provided reservations in government jobs,” said Bihar’s Social Welfare Minister, Manju Verma. She also added that the government was mulling over the proposal to provide financial help to such individuals from the transgender community who opt for sex change. <br /><br />In its previous avatar, the Nitish regime had issued an advertisement inviting applications from qualified non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to conduct a survey of eunuchs. The primary aim was to bring the third gender into the mainstream. The survey was the first step towards the implementation of their rehabilitation plan.<br /><br />These eunuchs, after being identified, were supposed to be imparted vocational training to facilitate their socio-economic rehabilitation. Those covered under the scheme were supposed to be trained as per their aptitude and interest for employment as cooks, drivers and security guards in residential complexes. But the plan remained a non-starter.<br /><br />Prior to this, the Bihar Government had decided to use the services of ‘third gender’ as ‘tax collector’. </p>
