Gauhati HC directs Centre to come up with list of transgender beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The Gauhati High Court has directed the Central government to come up with the list of transgender (third gender) beneficiaries under Ayushman Bharat from Assam so as to ascertain if this section of people has been discriminated upon.

In another important move the Gauhati Court has also directed the State government to take necessary steps for creating a separate wing exclusively for attending to all health issues of transgender people in the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

On Monday, the Gauhati High Court heard a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) (74/2018) filed by Swati Bidhan Baruah and issued the two directions, one to the Centre and the other to the State government.

Talking to The Sentinel, Baruah said that in the petition, it was challenged that the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana in the State did not cover transgender people living in the State in poor financial condition.

"The separate wing on the GMCH for transgender people will have an expert on transgender people's health issues," Baruah said.

The Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana of the Government of India aims to provide free access to healthcare for 50 crore people in the country.

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