Approaching equity - Indiagovernance.gov.in

vii. Transgenders68. There is a government order from the Andhra PradeshMinority Welfare Department which states that hijrasare to be considered a minority and welfare schemesare to be devised for them. A recent newpaper clippingalso states that all adult eunuchs in Delhi, India will begiven pensions of Rs. 1000 per month in recognitionof their low status by the local government. There isan urgent need for more such social protection andwelfare schemes for needy transgenders and hijras.69. Adequate outreach and communication is requiredto enable these welfare services to reach the mostmarginalized and vulnerable. The National SkillsMission and other concerned authorities should bedirected to open up existing schemes to transgendersand put in requisite safe guards to ensure inclusionand full participation of these groups.70. Development agencies must provide new opportunitiesfor transgender–hijras in their programmes as thiswill in the true sense contribute to the 12th Five YearPlan’s goal of inclusive and sustainable growth.viii. Migrants71. Set up an institutional mechanism for registration ofmigrant workers at the Panchayat/Urban Local Bodylevel at the source and the destination areas.72. Create a computerized database of migrant workersbased on the data obtained from the above registrationprocess.73. The Inter-State Migrant Workers Act should beamended to accord with prevailing realities with clearguidelines for implementation at the local level.74. The Unique Identity (UID) Authority should integrateits project with organizations working with migrantworkers across the country to ensure that migrantworkers are fully covered.75. The UID should be linked to provision of services likeeducation, banking for savings, credit and remittances,health and PDS.76. Benefits of unorganized sector welfare boards and/orschemes should be made available to migrant workersalso in the destination areas.77. Enable voting in elections for migrant workers.78. The Census enumeration should be made moresensitive to increased mobility of rural populations.79. Interstate validity of identity and entitlementdocuments such as ration cards or other valid IDsshould be ensured so that migrant workers can accesssocial benefit schemes in destination states.80. Formalise the payment of wages to migrant workersthrough banks to address payment-related issues andimplementation of programmes for financial inclusionof migrant workers.81. A migrant workers relief fund should be set up to coverall sectors of unorganized work, both at the nationaland the state level.82. There should be an urban employment guaranteescheme on the lines of the MG NREGS for migrantworkers.83. The living and working conditions of migrant workersshould be monitored by the government, trade unions,the media and NGOs.84. Assistance/information centres for migrants and theirfamilies should be established.85. A National Migrant Labour helpline on the lines ofthe Child Line should be established.86. Appropriate amendments where necessary andeffective implementation of the following acts isrequired–Minimum Wages Act, 1948, Inter StateMigrant Workman (Regulation of Employment andConditions of Service) Act 1979, Building and otherConstruction Workers (Regulation of Employment)Act 1996, Building & Other Construction WorkersWelfare Cess Act 1996, Contract Labour (Regulationand Abolition) Act 1970, Emigration Act 1983 andEmigration (Amendment) Rules 2009.87. Benefits of the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana(RSBY) should be made portable and made availableto migrant labour.88. Establish a National Overseas Manpower Corporationto handle recruitment processes in a safe manner foroverseas migrants.89. Establish a Labour Attaché at Indian Embassies atdestination countries.90. In order to overcome lack of awareness, the demandletter, power of attorney and the terms of contractshould be made available in the local language tomigrants going overseas.91. There should be a mechanism for timely redressal ofgrievances.29