'Maha govt considering a commission for transgender community'

Maharashtra government is considering to create a separate commission for welfare of transgenders under the social justice department, state minister Pankaja Munde said today.
Munde, minister for women and child development department said that the formation of a commission or a board will help sort out issues of transgenders and work for their welfare.
"Although my department is currently dealing with organisations of transgenders there is no independent department that would have the expertise or a system to deal with their issues," she told reporters here.
"Our department handles issues of children upto 6 years and pregnant and lactating mothers, while the social justice department handles Ashram schools.

"The Centre's social justice department handles issues related to transgenders and thus the state's department could handle the issue better," she said.
"The state government is positive about forming a commission on the lines of child rights commission," Munde said.

The minister said as of now, the union social justice department releases funds for welfare of the transgender community hence the state social justice department can handle the issues related to them.
"The government is concerned about their education, healthcare services, making jobs available for them and other welfare schemes and thus we are considering formation of a commission," she said.

Meanwhile, when contacted Rajkumar Badole, who handles state's social justice department said he was not aware about the development.
"No decision has been taken as of now and I am not aware about the discussions of the transgender community being handled by my department," Badole said.