The state government will undertake a special drive for registration of transgender voters. Only 288 persons registered under the ‘other’ category in a recent voter registration drive.

An official from the Women and Child Development Department said the department will ask the Chief Electoral Officer to take up a special drive to issue voter ID cards to members of the transgender community. The Women and Child Development Commissioner Rajendra Chavan directed district-wise WCD officials to prepare a detailed action plan to provide transgenders with voter cards, ration cards and Aadhar cards by involving local NGOs.

Out of 34 districts in the state, transgenders from only 10 districts have registered themselves. Laxmi Tripathi, a transgender activist said that only a small per cent of the transgender community are registered voters. The state incorporated a chapter on transgenders in the Women’s Policy last year. It has also proposed to set up a Transgender Welfare Board, which will look at issues such as vocational training and rehabilitation of transgender sex workers.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com

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