Kerala enhances allowance to transgenders for sex-change surgeries

Kerala Health Minister KK Shailaja has informed that the state government has hiked the allowance given to transgenders for sex-change surgeries. For those who want to undergo surgery to become males Rs 5 lakh to be given to them while for corrective surgery to become females, Rs 2.50 lakh will be given

Trivandrum:The Kerala government on Monday said that it had enhanced the allowance given to transgenders for sex-change surgeries and set aside Rs 50 lakh for the purpose.

Health Minister KK Shailaja said hitherto the amount was Rs 2 lakh for each beneficiary.

"For those who want to undergo surgery to become males, a maximum of Rs 2 lakh was given. But due to the number of surgeries and mounting expenses involved, this amount has now been increased to Rs 5 lakh. Likewise, those who want to undergo corrective surgery to become females, the amount has been fixed at Rs 2.50 lakh," said Shailaja.

Kerala was the first state to formulate a transgender policy. It has come up with special schemes for transgenders in social welfare and education fields.

IANS report

Read:|Noori Saleem: The untold story of transwoman, who is 'amma' to 45 children with HIV