Pune: Transgenders will have the option of identifying themselves with Central Railways' Pune division modifying new reservation and cancellation forms to provide the option of 'T', besides 'M' (male) and 'F'(female).
With the Railway Board having sent letters to all rail divisions regarding modification of railway forms, an official at the Pune division said that they had received intimation about the new format.
"It has been said that the apart from 'M' and 'F', the letter 'T', which stands for transgender, should be added in the forms. The Pune division received intimation about the forms, which will come from Byculla printing press in Mumbai," an official told TOI.
The letter from the Railway Board said that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was currently dealing with different issues of transgenders and a proposed legislation in the form of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, is being reviewed by a parliamentary standing committee.
"At present, we have got only old reservation forms. A provision has been made for the community to enable them to book tickets by striking out the options 'M' and 'F' and write 'T' instead. Once the new forms arrive, they will be circulated to all rail reservation counters across the division," the Pune division official said.
In 2014, the Supreme Court had created the 'third gender' for the transgender community. Earlier, they had to write male or female in the gender column. With the order of the Supreme Court, government forms have options like 'TG' (third gender), others etc.
A member of the community said that the decision was welcome. "We are being given our rights but there are many who look down upon us. The mindset needs to change and that is very important," a community member said.
With the Railway Board having sent letters to all rail divisions regarding modification of railway forms, an official at the Pune division said that they had received intimation about the new format.
"It has been said that the apart from 'M' and 'F', the letter 'T', which stands for transgender, should be added in the forms. The Pune division received intimation about the forms, which will come from Byculla printing press in Mumbai," an official told TOI.
The letter from the Railway Board said that the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment was currently dealing with different issues of transgenders and a proposed legislation in the form of The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2016, is being reviewed by a parliamentary standing committee.
"At present, we have got only old reservation forms. A provision has been made for the community to enable them to book tickets by striking out the options 'M' and 'F' and write 'T' instead. Once the new forms arrive, they will be circulated to all rail reservation counters across the division," the Pune division official said.
In 2014, the Supreme Court had created the 'third gender' for the transgender community. Earlier, they had to write male or female in the gender column. With the order of the Supreme Court, government forms have options like 'TG' (third gender), others etc.
A member of the community said that the decision was welcome. "We are being given our rights but there are many who look down upon us. The mindset needs to change and that is very important," a community member said.
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