In a significant move towards inclusive development, the Government of Odisha has reconstituted the State Transgender Welfare Board, aiming to enhance welfare initiatives and ensure better coordination for the transgender community across the state.
New Structure to Improve Governance
The earlier board, constituted on May 15, 2025, with a three-year term, has been dissolved within a year and replaced with a newly structured body. Under the revised framework, the Chief Secretary of Odisha will now serve as the Chairman, marking a shift towards stronger administrative leadership.
The Secretary of the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Department has been appointed as Vice-Chairperson, while the Director of the department will act as the Member Secretary.
Multi-Departmental Representation
To ensure comprehensive policy implementation, the reconstituted board includes senior officials from key departments such as:
Health and Family Welfare
Women and Child Development
Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water
Housing and Urban Development
Skill Development and Technical Education
Higher Education
School and Mass Education
Additionally, the Director General of Police and senior administrative officials are part of the board, reinforcing inter-departmental collaboration.
Community Representation Ensured
The board places strong emphasis on representation from the transgender community. Notable members include Dipti Mohapatra, the state’s first third-gender doctorate recipient, and Soumya Das, a prominent rights activist.
Representatives from organizations such as the Transgender Suraksha Trust in Bhubaneswar and the Chetana Organization in Balugaon have also been included, ensuring grassroots-level participation.
District-Level Participation
To strengthen regional representation, District Collectors from Balangir, Angul, and Khordha will serve as members on a rotational basis.
Focus on Welfare and Inclusion
The reconstituted board is expected to improve implementation of schemes related to:
Education and skill development
Healthcare access
Social security
Livelihood opportunities
This initiative reflects the state’s commitment to promoting dignity, equality, and empowerment for transgender persons through inclusive governance.
By Ananya Pattnaik
Courtesy : Pragativadi
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