The Lok Sabha on Monday passed a Bill which provides a mechanism for social, economic and educational empowerment of transgender persons. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019 was passed by a voice vote amid noisy protests by some opposition parties over Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury not being allowed to speak on his adjournment notice.

The Bill was introduced on July 19.

Replying on the Bill, Minister of State for Social Justice Ratanlal Kataria said it makes provision for establishing a national authority for safeguarding rights of transgender persons.

Previously, activists from trans communities had called for the full text of the Bill to be made available and had demanded that inputs and suggestions from the community be sought and incorporated into the Bill.

Activists highlighted the fact that their concerns about the new Bill promulgated by the government stemmed from the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2018, which was tabled in parliament but lapsed after it could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha. Read more via the Wire