INDORE: High court on Monday sought status report from the state government within two weeks on steps taken to provide assistance to transgender community during the lockdown.

The court also directed the state to take necessary steps for the safety and well-being of transgender, as claimed by the petitioner.

A division bench of Chief Justice Ajay Kumar Mittal and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla sought the report in a video-conference hearing of petition of one Sandhya seeking coverage of transgender under Public distribution Scheme and monetary assistance.

 
Petitioner’s counsel Shanno Shagufta Khan said that, around 27,000 transgender in the state including around 3,000 in Indore had been struggling in absence of any social security benefits from the government in the lockdown.

The state government has failed to make necessary arrangements for their survival during lockdown and even the district administration and municipality leaders hadn’t paid heed to their demands, said Khan.

 
Khan in the petition demanded 25kg of ration with cash assistance of Rs 5,000 per month for next six months to transgender and district collectors to be ordered to make arrangements for their treatment.

 
Khan also demanded additional cash assistance of Rs 2,000 for the payment of rent for next six months. Khan also sought directions for state to provide a pension of Rs 35,00 per month to transgender.