Transgender Rights Bill should be sent to select panel: Opposition

The Opposition in the Rajya Sabha said the government's bill aimed at protecting the rights of transgender persons is not "comprehensive" enough and should be sent to a select panel for further scrutiny.

Instead of a new bill, the government should have brought the private member's bill on the transgenders' rights -- moved by DMK leader Tiruchi Siva and already passed in Lok Sabha Last year, the opposition said.

Participating in a debate on the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, opposition parties DMK, NCP, CPI and Aam Admi Party (AAP) alleged that the government has brought its own version tweaking major provisions suggested in the private member bill.

Sanjay Singh (AAP) said, "2 per cent reservation for transgenders and setting up of a commission were there in the private member bill but they have not been incorporated in the existing one."
He observed that some of the provisions in the existing bill are not in favour of the transgender community. "Therefore the bill should be referred to a select committee for further scrutiny."
Binoy Viswam (CPI) said, "Will discrimination against transgender stop after the passage of this bill? Please refer this to a select panel, if not consider certain suggestions."