a first of its kind, envisaging ending the societal stigma towards the sexual minority group and ensuring them non-discriminatory treatment. ‘The State Policy for Transgenders in Kerala 2015’ is aimed at safeguarding the rights of the marginalized community. The Kerala Department of Social Justice has issued the policy to enforce the constitutional rights of transgenders, taking into account the Supreme Court judgement (2014) and the findings of the recent survey in the state. The policy covers all the categories of transgenders and intersex people.
It also emphasises the rights of the minority group to self-identify themselves as man, woman or Transgender as stated in the Supreme Court judgement. It also ensures them equal access to social and economic opportunities, resources and services, right to equal treatment under the law, right to live life without violence and equitable right in all decision making bodies The number of those identifies themselves as transgender is estimated to be around 30,000 in Kerala.
