TN to bring transgenders under CM's insurance plan

Tamil Nadu government said on Friday it would bring all transgenders in the state under Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Insurance Scheme, announced this year.

Launching the helpline nummber 044-25990505 for transgenders in Chennai, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary V K Subburaj said 'apart from issuing voter's identity card and ration card to transgenders by the government,these people would be included under Chief Minister's Insurance Scheme so that they will treatment in government and private hospitals for serious ailments".

Stating that there were 50,000 transgenders living in the state, he said, 'the transgenders included under the insurance scheme would get treatment in govertnment or private hospitals for various ailments including for kidney, heart and liver and if they met with accidents'.

Early this year, in his address to the assembly, Tamil Nadu Governor Surjit Singh Barnala had said the government would launch an insurance scheme for poor and low-income groups to get medical treatment in government and private hospitals benefitting about one crore families and the insurance cover would be upto Rs one lakh.

Speaking on the benefits of the helpline, Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative administered by Voluntary Health Service Project director Lakshmi Bai said, 'the helpline seeks to reach out to members of general public who are looking for information about transgenders and also those who wish to provide service to this community'.