West Bengal’s trans community welcomes Bangladesh move
Bangladesh has determined to provide tax incentives to its corporations using individuals from the community.
The transgender community in West Bengal has welcomed Bangladesh’s resolution to provide tax incentives to its corporations using individuals from the community, saying India too ought to undertake comparable measures.
“This is an absolutely commendable step, taken in the face of the challenges posed by religious fundamentalists. As co-convener of SAYAN (South Asian Young Queer Activists’ Network), I would like to congratulate both, the Bangladesh government and our trans co-fighters in that country, for this historic step,” Ranjita Sinha, director of the Association of Transgender/Hijra in Bengal, instructed The Puucho.
“This will surely pave way for inclusion of trans citizens in the mainstream. Most importantly, this move will help in creating livelihood options for them, something the transgender community in West Bengal and in India is still struggling for,” Ms. Sinha mentioned.
Calling for comparable measures in India, she mentioned that until members of the transgender community have been included in decision-making our bodies, notably in authorities our bodies that handled the community, all of the welfare measures introduced for them through the years would stay on paper.
“It is not as if nothing is being done in India. Last year, the Centre started the Garima Greh scheme, under which shelters are being set up across the country for those who have been forced to leave homes or abandoned by their families. But unless you include members of the community in decision-making bodies and unless you empower them politically, such welfare schemes are likely to remain on paper,” Ms. Sinha mentioned.