U.P. Drags Feet on Transgender Inclusion in OBC Category

The Uttar Pradesh Law Commission has sought a response from the state government on granting trans persons benefits and reservations under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

- HT Correspondent

LUCKNOW: This follows letters sent to it from the advisor to the Transgender Welfare Board of UP. The proposal aligns with the 2014 Supreme Court ruling in NALSA vs Union of India, which recognised transgender individuals as the "third gender" and directed governments to ensure their rights, security, and social welfare.

Eleven years on, while states like Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu have introduced horizontal reservations for transgender representation, Uttar Pradesh has yet to follow suit. According to Devika Mangalmukhi, advisor to the Transgender Welfare Board, the first step toward representation is securing a place at decision-making tables. "If we aim for nationally relevant positions, we must first establish financial and political footholds in our states," she said.