NATINAL COUNCIL FOR TRANSGENDER (Syllabus: GS Paper 2 – Governance)

Context: A significant third meeting of the National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP) is recently scheduled to take place in New Delhi.

National Council for Transgender Persons (NCTP)

• About: It is a statutory body constituted under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 to safeguard the rights of transgender persons in India.
• Aim: To focus on livelihood issues and raise awareness about the trans community to achieve the goal of social justice, ensuring acceptance within families and in the larger society.
• Responsibilities of the NCTP: Monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the provisions of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and making recommendations to the government on measures to promote and protect the rights of transgender persons.
• Composition: Chairperson: Union Minister of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

oOne representative each from five states or union territories, from east, west, north, south, and northeast zones. They will be appointed on a rotational basis.

Functions of the National Council for Transgender Persons

• Advisory Role: The committee's primary function is to offer the Central Government guidance on formulating policies, programs, laws, and initiatives affecting transgender individuals.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: It monitors and evaluates the outcomes of laws and programs designed to achieve full equality and inclusion for transgender individuals.
• Coordination and Assessment: It coordinates and assesses the endeavors of various government agencies, alongside non-government organizations, in tackling transgender issues.
• Issue Resolution: The committee focuses on resolving problems specifically concerning transgender individuals.