Identifying And Understanding The Challenges Faced By Transgender Individuals In Obtaining Transgender Certificate & Identity Card In India

Bio :  Aishwarya Bansal holds a Bachelor of Technology in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Graphic Era University, Dehradun. She has completed her Master’s degree in Public Policy at Kautilya School of Public Policy with a specialization in Business & Government and Economics for Development. She has more than nine years of prior work experience in the IT industry. She had also interned at the Quality Council of India and worked on the Social Audit of a Project established by the National Commission for Women & TISS, which involved assessment of the functioning & effectiveness of Special Cells that provide psycho-socio-legal services to women facing violence.

Project Outline: This capstone project delves into “Identifying & Understanding the Challenges Faced by Transgender Individuals in Obtaining Transgender Identity Certificates in both Online and Offline in India”. The government has attempted to actively support transgender rights through the introduction of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act in 2019. This Act mandates that anyone who wants their transgender status to be legally recognized must apply for a "Transgender Certificate and Identity Card (MoSJE, n.d.)". This certificate serves as crucial official documentation categorizing their gender as transgender and is mandatory to avail of benefits under the SMILE scheme, such as scholarships for education, medical assistance, skill development, legal protection, etc, that would result in the advancement and progress of this community (MoSJE, n.d.). Through a rigorous qualitative primary research methodology, including extensive questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with Transgender Individuals, NGOs, and Government Officials, this study uncovers the systemic barriers and personal struggles experienced during the application process. By highlighting these challenges, this research seeks to offer crucial insights that will aid in policy refinement and effective implementation, promoting inclusivity of the marginalized group.