Hyderabad: Minister for Scheduled Castes Development, Tribal Welfare, Welfare of Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens and Transgender Persons, Adluri Laxman Kumar, said the State government’s decision to provide co-opted membership to transgender persons in local bodies marks a historic milestone in political empowerment and social justice.
Speaking at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat on Saturday, the Minister said that under the leadership of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the State Cabinet has approved the process of providing transgender persons an opportunity to serve as co-opted members in local institutions.
He described the decision as a reflection of constitutional values and the Government’s commitment to ensuring dignity, representation and equal opportunities for the transgender community.
Around 25 members of the transgender community, including trans women rights activists, trans men rights activists, Hijra community leaders, transgender persons, and representatives of various transgender organisations, met the Minister to express their gratitude to the Chief Minister for the landmark decision.
They felicitated Adluri Laxman with a shawl in recognition of the Government’s commitment to their welfare and empowerment.
The Minister said the government is determined to move beyond welfare schemes by making transgender persons active participants in governance. Their inclusion as co-opted members in local bodies will ensure that their voices are represented in the development of villages, mandals and urban local bodies.
He further highlighted that the Telangana government has already launched several initiatives for the economic and social empowerment of transgender persons. These include skill development programmes in driving, cooking, and drone operations, employment opportunities at Hyderabad Metro stations, and engagement in traffic management, providing them with dignified livelihoods.
The latest decision to extend political representation, he said, is another significant step towards ensuring that transgender persons have a meaningful role in public administration and decision-making. He described it as a model that could inspire similar initiatives across the country.
Representatives of the transgender community welcomed the decision, stating that it has given them a sense of dignity, confidence and belonging. They thanked Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for the historic initiative and Minister Adluri Laxman Kumar for his continued support, expressing their commitment to contributing responsibly to the development of society and local governance.