Odisha becomes first Indian state to offer food benefits and welfare to transgenders
In what is a landmark event in the Indian LGBTQ+ movement, Odisha became the first Indian state to provide transgenders with social welfare benefits, including pension, housing and food grains. Niten Chandra, principal secretary of Odisha’s Department of Social Security, spoke about the move’s relevance to bring the transgender community at par with the benefits given to those living below the poverty line, and said that the subhuman treatment of transgenders resulted very often in poverty, unemployment and starvation, which made such a provision the need of the hour.
Male students can file sexual harassment charges against other men, women and transgenders
With India’s rape and sexual harassment laws still defiantly refusing to recognize male victims, the University Grants Commission (the UGC) has established new regulations which allow male students to file cases of sexual harassment against other men, women and transgenders. Universities and colleges that do not follow the regulations can face funds cuts and other action. All complaints will be reviewed with a probe in 90 days, followed by action within 30 days of receipt of the report. Students guilty of sexual harassment can be rusticated, while employees and teachers face action as per service rules.
Indian TV soap to most likely have an intersex person as the protagonist
An Indian TV show named Shakti will most probably be featuring an intersex person as the leading character. The Times of India, citing reliable sources, said, “It has been shown so far that the eldest daughter of the house is discriminated against by her father and grandmother, and is only loved by her mother. They haven’t revealed why she is hated by her family. After the show takes a time leap within a month, viewers will get to know the truth about the girl.”
Indian woman abducted in Kabul by militant group
Judith D’Souza, an Indian woman working with the Aga Khan foundation, was on early Thursday kidnapped in the Tamani area of Kabul. Police suspect terrorist groups to be behind the abduction. The Afghan police have reconstructed Ms. D’Souza’s movements based on her driver’s statement. The driver, who was with Ms. D’Souza when she was abducted, said she was on her way home just after 10 p.m. after visiting a friend in Kabul. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj has reached out to Ms D’Souza’s family and has promised to leave no stone unturned in returning the victim to India.
Trio of women will be the first to be inducted into the Indian Air Force
For the first time in the history of the Indian Armed Forces, three women fighter pilots will be inducted on the 18th June, 2016. The three women pilots will be commissioned into the fighter stream, which opened for female candidates in October 2015, after completing their training successfully. Bhawana Kanth, Mohana Singh and Avani Chaturvedi are the three women who qualified for the fighter stream. The three trainees will move to Bidar, Karnataka this month to complete their stage-III training for a year on Hawk advanced jet trainers, before they get to fly supersonic warplanes.
Featured Image Credit: NDTV
