Maharashtra announces free education for transgender students in government schools; Check details
Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil had asked the varsities to bear the entire expenses of transgender students from their funds.
Maharashtra News: The Maharashtra government has announced free education for transgender students in all public universities of the state. According to an official statement on Wednesday, public universities in Maharashtra have agreed to provide free education to students from the transgender community as proposed by the state government.
On Tuesday, Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, during an interaction with rectors of the state universities, had asked the varsities to bear the entire expenses of transgender students from their funds.
“All the Vice Chancellors unanimously accepted the Minister’s call (to provide free education to the students of the transgender community),” the statement said, adding that all such students will now be eligible for free education in these varsities and allied colleges .
The meeting attended by senior officials of the Higher and Technical Education Department also discussed progress under the New Education Policy (NEP).
761 hospitalizations allowed for transgender beneficiaries under PM-JAY
Meanwhile, in related news, Health Minister SP Singh Baghel on Tuesday revealed that a total of 761 hospitalizations worth Rs 1.12 crore had been approved under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (PM-JAY) for transgender beneficiaries till November. 30.
Moreover, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the National Health Authority (NHA) and the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) to extend the benefits of the PM-JAY to all transgender persons, the MoS said in a written answer in Rajya Sabha.
According to the MoU, the transgender community will get healthcare benefits under the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise) framework launched by the MoSJE.
Any member of the transgender community who is registered on the national transgender portal is eligible for free healthcare facilities at any PM-JAY hospital, Baghel said.
The government is implementing the National AIDS Control Program, currently in its fifth phase, across the country. The transgender community is considered among the High-Risk Group (HRG) for contracting HIV infection, he said
HIV testing and care is provided to them mainly through targeted intervention projects and the Link Worker Scheme is being implemented through state AIDS control associations with the aim of reducing new HIV infections, he added.
In addition, all transgender people affected by HIV/AIDS are provided with free antiretroviral therapy (ART) at ART centers and additional support services through care and support centers in a stigma-free and inclusive manner as per the standards of care.
The government is implementing the National Mental Health Program (NMHP) across the country.
Mental health care is part of the comprehensive primary health care package under the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centers (AB-HWC) Scheme.
PM-JAY offers treatments corresponding to a total of 1,949 procedures under 27 different specialties, of which 19 procedures are related to the specialty “mental disorders”.
The National Tele Mental Health Program (NTMHP) has been launched to improve access to quality mental health and care services in the country. Eligible persons, including those from the transgender community, are entitled to free healthcare services under the schemes, Baghel said.
(With PTI inputs)