The Tamil Nadu government has increased the subsidy being provided to transgenders to run their own small-scale businesses from ₹20,000 to ₹50,000. Minister for Social Welfare and Nutritious Noon Meal Programme V. Saroja made the announcement in the Assembly on Wednesday.
“The government has been providing subsidy of ₹20,000 to people belonging to the third gender to help [them] run businesses like grocery shops and push cart food joints, rear milch cows and engage in other similar trades.
“This [subsidy] has now been increased to ₹50,000, and will benefit 150 transgenders every year,” she said.
The department has also increased the procurement price of bananas being provided as part of the noon meal scheme, from ₹1.25 to ₹3.25 per banana. The department would pay the enhanced amount to anganwadi teachers so that they could serve the fruit five times a week to students who don’t eat eggs.
“Since the cost of bananas has increased, the workers who buy the fruit are having to spend money from their own pockets. Now, they can use this amount to buy it,” a senior official of the department told The Hindu.
The government would also set up Smart Classes in 10 government schools for hearing-impaired children. “Of the 22 schools being run by the government for special children, Smart Classes would be set up in 10 institutions, and would have computers and special equipment to benefit 500 children,” the Minister said.