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The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched an initiative to gather public feedback on policies affecting the LGBTQI+ community, aiming for inclusivity and effectiveness. This move follows the Supreme Court's directive in October 2023 in the Supriya vs Union of India case, which prompted the establishment of a high-level committee to clarify the entitlements of queer individuals.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has launched an initiative to gather public feedback on policies affecting the LGBTQI+ community, aiming for inclusivity and effectiveness. This move follows the Supreme Court’s directive in October 2023 in the Supriya vs Union of India case, which prompted the establishment of a high-level committee to clarify the entitlements of queer individuals.
Formed in April 2024, the committee is chaired by the cabinet secretary and includes officials from various ministries, such as Home Affairs and Health and Family Welfare. In a meeting held in May, the committee addressed critical issues like the issuance of ration cards and the rights of queer individuals to open joint bank accounts with their partners, as well as measures to prevent harassment based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
To delve deeper into these matters, a sub-committee led by the home secretary was created, focusing on issues such as prison visitation rights and law enforcement practices to ensure the community’s safety. As a result of these discussions, several ministries have issued advisories aimed at protecting the LGBTQI+ community.
For instance, the Department of Food and Public Distribution has directed states and Union Territories to recognize partners in queer relationships as members of the same household for ration card purposes. Additionally, the Department of Financial Services has confirmed that queer individuals can open joint bank accounts without restrictions and nominate their partners as beneficiaries.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has also taken steps to prevent discrimination in healthcare, prohibiting conversion therapy and ensuring access to sex reassignment surgery. Furthermore, the government is developing guidelines to address mental health issues within the queer community and medical interventions for intersex infants and children.
In July 2024, the Department of Social Justice and Empowerment conducted a consultation with community representatives, central ministries, and state governments to discuss LGBTQI+ matters. The suggestions from this meeting have been forwarded to relevant ministries for further action.
Now, the government is inviting the public to submit their suggestions and feedback on additional measures that could be implemented to support the LGBTQI+ community, aiming to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all.