Cabinet approves amendment of birth & death rules to include ‘third gender’

SHILLONG, JAN 23: The state Cabinet today approved the amendment of the Meghalaya Registration of Birth and Death Rules, 1999, for inclusion of transgender or third gender option against sex column in birth or death certificates.

Addressing media persons after the meeting, chief minister Mukul Sangma said the decision was based on a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to all state governments following the order passed by the Supreme Court.

“In line with this, three options (in the sex column) including male, female and transgender will now be made available for individuals to indicate their gender,” Sangma informed.

Asked, he said that is the offshoot of the circular, they have kept the option which is expected to be provided in birth and death certificates.

The state capital alone has a total of nearly 800 men having sex with men (MSM) and transgender (TG) registered till January, this year with the Shamakami, a local support group looking after the welfare of this particular community.

The Supreme Court had delivered a landmark judgment on April 15, 2014 following a writ petition filed by the National Legal Services Authority (NLSA).

The Centre and all state governments in the country were directed by the Apex Court to implement recommendations within six months by October 15, 2014.

By Our Reporter