UP to Issue Ration Cards to Transgenders in Inclusion Push
Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath in a meeting with officials on Friday (Image credit UP Info Dept)
Uttar Pradesh Launches Ration Card Campaign for Transgender Community
By S. Jha
LUCKNOW, May 2, 2025 — The government of Uttar Pradesh, led by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, has launched a campaign to provide ration cards to transgender individuals, aiming to ensure food security for one of India’s most marginalized groups.
The initiative, announced Friday, seeks to integrate transgender citizens into the state’s welfare system, granting them access to subsidized food grains.
The state’s Food and Civil Supplies Department has directed district supply officers to identify eligible transgender individuals without ration cards and enroll them as “eligible households” under India’s Food Security Act.
The process will prioritize transparency and efficiency to ensure no one is excluded, officials said.
The campaign responds to a report from the Uttar Pradesh Transgender Welfare Board, which found that many transgender people lack access to basic services like ration cards and stable employment due to social stigma and systemic barriers.
By addressing food insecurity, the initiative aims to foster greater inclusion in governance and society.
“This is about ensuring no citizen is left behind,” Adityanath said, emphasizing his government’s commitment to inclusive development. The campaign aligns with his administration’s broader efforts to support the transgender community, guided by the national motto “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas” (“Together with all, Development for all”).
“The state has introduced several measures to bolster transgender rights. Transgender Protection Cells, supervised by district magistrates, operate in every district to address grievances and ensure safety,” said the state government in a media statement.
Shelter homes for transgender individuals over 60 will provide housing, pensions, health care through Ayushman Bharat cards, nutritious meals, and mental health counseling.
To date, 1,067 transgender individuals have received identity cards, streamlining access to government programs. Additionally, 248 transgender students have been awarded scholarships to support education and self-reliance, according to state officials.
“The initiative reflects Uttar Pradesh’s efforts to address long-standing inequalities faced by the transgender community, which has historically been excluded from mainstream services,” added the state government in the media statement.
By expanding access to welfare schemes, the state aims to set a model for inclusive policy in India, where transgender rights have gained increasing attention in recent years.
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