Ensure LGBTQIA+ couples get ration cards
Context:
Recently, The Union government has directed all States and Union Territories to take necessary measures to ensure that LGBTQIA+ couples are considered part of the same household for the issuance of ration cards.
- This move follows the Supreme Court’s ruling in October 2023, which refused to recognize same-sex marriages but directed the government to take interim measures to protect the rights of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Relevance:
GS-02 (Gender equality, Government policies and interventions)
Key Highlights of the News
- Healthcare Rights and Guidelines: The Ministry of Health has issued guidelines to all States and Union Territories, enabling partners in LGBTQIA+ relationships to claim each other’s bodies when “a near relative or next of kin is unavailable: Additionally, the Ministry is working on guidelines for the mental health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ persons and has framed protocols for medical interventions for intersex children or those with disorders of sexual differentiation.
- Financial Inclusion Measures: The Department of Financial Services clarified that LGBTQIA+ couples cannot be denied the right to open joint bank accounts and also stated that they can nominate each other as beneficiaries, ensuring their financial security and inclusion.
- Guidelines to Prevent Discrimination: The Home Ministry spoke regarding prison visitation rights for LGBTQIA+ persons and issued advisories to all the States and Union Territories to make sure that LGBTQIA+ persons do not face violence, harassment, or coercion.
What is a LGBTQIA+ community?
- The acronym stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual.
- The ” + ” denotes that it holds for further expanding and new understanding of different parts of the very diverse gender and sexual identities.
- It is a group of people who do not identify themselves with cisgender heterosexual “ideals”.
- The “Hijras” in India are considered to be a part of this LGBTQIA+ community.
- These communities generally celebrate pride, diversity, individuality, and sexuality.
Conclusion
This step of the central government is a beacon of hope to the LGBTQIA+ community as it addresses their basic rights on equality and non-discrimination. However, the governments should work on policy refinement and the people on their mindsets to bring this community to the mainstream and to give them equal dignity much like other persons in the country.
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