The Lok Sabha on Monday passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019.
The Bill, which was introduced on July 19, was passed by a voice vote amid noisy protests by some Opposition parties over Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury not being allowed to speak on his adjournment notice.
Cutting across party lines, members of the House spoke in favour of the Bill.
Moving the Bill, Minister for State for Social Justice and Empowerment, Kishan Pal Gurjar said, the Bill prohibits the discrimination against a transgender person, including denial of service or unfair treatment about education, employment, healthcare, access to, or enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public.
The Bill defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth. The Bill provides every transgender person shall have a right to reside and be included in his household.
Minister of State for Social Justice Rattan Lal Kataria said the new Bill has made provision for establishing a national authority for safeguarding rights of transgenders.
The Minister said according to the 2011 Census there are more than 4.80 lakh transgenders in the country. He said in the Bill there are provisions for penalty and punishment in cases of offences and sexual harassment against transgender persons.