<p>New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday outlined a series of measures aimed at ensuring the welfare and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, including allowing queer partners to open joint bank accounts, be treated as a single household for ration cards, besides strengthening their access to healthcare.</p>.<p>Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment BL Verma outlined these steps in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.</p>.70-yr-old Indian man fined $1,168 in Malaysia over clothes reflecting 'support' for LGBTQ.<p>Among the initiatives, Verma said the department of food and public distribution has issued an advisory to the states and Union Territories (UT), stating that "partners in a queer relationship are to be treated as part of the same household for the purposes of ration cards".</p>.<p>Additionally, states have been asked to ensure that such couples do not face discrimination while obtaining these documents, said Verma, who's also the MoS for consumer affairs, food and public distribution.</p>.<p>The government also clarified that there are no restrictions on the members of the queer community opening joint bank accounts or nominating their partners as beneficiaries.</p>.<p>"The department of financial services has issued an advisory stating that persons in a queer relationship can be nominated to receive the balance in an account in case of the account holder's death," Verma said.</p>.Madras HC flags 'misuse' of LGBTQ dating app Grindr.<p>In the healthcare sector, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed all the states and stakeholders to take measures to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights, including ensuring access to sex reassignment surgeries, prohibiting conversion therapy, incorporating sensitisation into medical curricula, and providing teleconsultation services, Verma said.</p>.<p>The government has also framed guidelines for medical interventions in infants and children with intersex traits to ensure their well-being, he added.</p>.<p>Prison visitation rights for LGBTQ+ individuals have also been addressed, he said.</p>.<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory to the states and UTs outlining law and order measures to prevent violence, harassment, or coercion against queer persons, Verma added.</p>.<p>For transgender welfare, the government cited the enactment of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and the formation of a National Council for Transgender Persons to advise on policies.</p>.<p>"A national portal for transgender persons has been made operational to issue transgender certificates and identity cards," Verma said.</p>.<p>Additionally, he said transgender protection cells have been set up in 13 states to monitor crimes against transgender individuals.</p>.<p>These steps, Verma said, reflect the government's commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community.</p>
<p>New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday outlined a series of measures aimed at ensuring the welfare and rights of the LGBTQ+ community, including allowing queer partners to open joint bank accounts, be treated as a single household for ration cards, besides strengthening their access to healthcare.</p>.<p>Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment BL Verma outlined these steps in a written response to a question in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.</p>.70-yr-old Indian man fined $1,168 in Malaysia over clothes reflecting 'support' for LGBTQ.<p>Among the initiatives, Verma said the department of food and public distribution has issued an advisory to the states and Union Territories (UT), stating that "partners in a queer relationship are to be treated as part of the same household for the purposes of ration cards".</p>.<p>Additionally, states have been asked to ensure that such couples do not face discrimination while obtaining these documents, said Verma, who's also the MoS for consumer affairs, food and public distribution.</p>.<p>The government also clarified that there are no restrictions on the members of the queer community opening joint bank accounts or nominating their partners as beneficiaries.</p>.<p>"The department of financial services has issued an advisory stating that persons in a queer relationship can be nominated to receive the balance in an account in case of the account holder's death," Verma said.</p>.Madras HC flags 'misuse' of LGBTQ dating app Grindr.<p>In the healthcare sector, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has directed all the states and stakeholders to take measures to safeguard LGBTQ+ rights, including ensuring access to sex reassignment surgeries, prohibiting conversion therapy, incorporating sensitisation into medical curricula, and providing teleconsultation services, Verma said.</p>.<p>The government has also framed guidelines for medical interventions in infants and children with intersex traits to ensure their well-being, he added.</p>.<p>Prison visitation rights for LGBTQ+ individuals have also been addressed, he said.</p>.<p>The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued an advisory to the states and UTs outlining law and order measures to prevent violence, harassment, or coercion against queer persons, Verma added.</p>.<p>For transgender welfare, the government cited the enactment of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, and the formation of a National Council for Transgender Persons to advise on policies.</p>.<p>"A national portal for transgender persons has been made operational to issue transgender certificates and identity cards," Verma said.</p>.<p>Additionally, he said transgender protection cells have been set up in 13 states to monitor crimes against transgender individuals.</p>.<p>These steps, Verma said, reflect the government's commitment to safeguarding the rights and dignity of the LGBTQ+ community.</p>