In the budget 2022-23, the Union Finance Minister announced a special provision for the parlingis (transgender) in this country to live with dignity and everyone expressed happiness by playing the drums. The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has been entrusted with the responsibility of development of this community, and a total of Rs 13,134 crore has been allocated to the budget for this community. In this provision there was a scheme called Ayushman Bharat TG Plus... but two years have passed, and the scheme has not been implemented.
Ayushman Bharat Yojana was about gender reassignment surgery. The scheme also covers hormone therapy and gender reassignment surgery under the subsidy of up to five lakhs. But not only this Ayushman Bharat Yojana, but also because there is no subsidy for sex reassignment surgery in any government scheme in the state and lakhs of rupees are being spent on this surgery in private hospitals, the transsexual community is facing great difficulties.
Counseling is essential before sex reassignment surgery. Both the actual surgery and post-surgery treatment are needed. It takes a period of one and a half to two months and the cost of the entire process is around 3 to 5 lakhs. These surgeries are not yet subsidized. No financial assistance is available from Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojana, Ayushman Bharat Yojana or the Chief Minister's Assistance Fund. Therefore, these surgeries have to be done in private hospitals.
Shamibha Patil, an activist of the transgender community, says in this regard, “On the one hand, sex reassignment surgery is very expensive, which many people in the transgender community cannot afford. Separate wards for transgenders have been started in some government hospitals in the state. But there is no benefit. Only cold and cough medicines are available there. There are so many health related schemes by the central government and state government governments but are of no use to us transgenders. So where does this fund go? In the last year, Maharashtra government has spent fourteen crore rupees on the name of the transgender Rights and Welfare Protection Act. But out of these fourteen crores, even if only fourteen transsexuals have improved, the government should disclose its statistics. It is necessary for the government to provide funds for sexology rather than just putting it on the surface. In other states, gender reassignment surgery is subsidized. Shamibha Patil has demanded that such subsidies should be received in Maharashtra as well.
Sex reassignment surgery is done in this way-
- Reassignment surgery means that before undergoing gender reassignment surgery, a person must have gender dysphoria, a feeling of discomfort with their gender.
- Psychiatrists and psychologists got help with this.
- After a long discussion with the person, the psychiatrist decides about gender dysphoria. If this is the case, the treatment starts with' hormonal therapy '. In this, drugs and injections of appropriate hormones are given.
- Its effect is seen when the right hormones are given. That person feels good. Their behavior improves, they remain happy.
- Then preparations are made for surgery. The age of the person should be 20 years or above. For persons below 20 years of age, their parents' permission is required. At least one psychiatrist and a psychologist must have approval for surgery.
- The complete process takes about 5–6 hours. It involves changes in the breasts, genitals and face.
- In this, plastic surgeons, psychologists, gynecologists, and neurologists have to work together.
- Hormonal therapy should be continued for one year after surgery. Sometimes this therapy needs to be continued throughout life, especially after the woman becomes a man. After this, the normal and sexual life of such people becomes smooth. But a person who has become a woman cannot be a mother. They can do surrogacy or adoption.
- This surgery costs approximately 10 to 20 lakhs.
