SHILLONG: In a major decision, the State Cabinet has amended the Meghalaya Registration of Birth and Death Rules, 1999 which paves the way for recognition of transgenders.
The decision came from the State Cabinet after a circular from the Ministry of Home Affairs following the apex court’s order that created the “third gender” status.
After the cabinet meeting, Mukul Sangma said that from now on three options of male, female and transgender will be given to individuals while they indicate their gender.
“From now on individuals will have the right to indicate their gender,” Sangma said, adding that the provision of third gender will be included in all official forms for people to indicate their gender as per the SC order.
The state government, however, does not have a data for transgenders which will be created after the new exercise as was done in the case of single mothers in the state whose data was created following the rollout of the CM’s Special Assistance programme to single mothers.
The apex court order states that transgenders will be allowed admission in educational institutions and given employment on the basis that they belong to the third gender category.
