Assam Cabinet recognises transgender community as SEBC, ensuring access to education, jobs, and welfare schemes.
Guwahati: In a historic move promoting equality and inclusivity, the Assam Cabinet has officially recognised the transgender community under the category of Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBC). The decision was announced by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
As part of this progressive policy, transgender persons who are original inhabitants of Assam will be eligible for official Transgender Identity Cards. These cards will be issued following verification by the respective District Commissioners and are expected to facilitate access to education, government jobs, and state-run welfare schemes.
Speaking to The Sunday Guardian, Assam’s first transgender judge, Swati Bidhan Baruah, welcomed the move.
“It’s an appreciable step. The fight we began to get the community recognised under the SEBC category has been worth it,” she said.
Under the new policy, transgender individuals who are original inhabitants of Assam will receive Transgender Identity Cards after verification. These will enable them to access government benefits, job reservations, and welfare schemes.
“Today, the Assam Cabinet has approved providing socially and educationally backward class status to the transgender community who are original inhabitants of Assam,” CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said.
Palash Borah, a well-known social changemaker and President of ‘Snehbandhan – Bond of Love’, called the move “wonderful and historic.” He praised the efforts of Sarma and Bhaskar Mahanta, Director of the Department of Social Justice, for initiating the process.
“Just days ago, we had a meeting with the honourable minister, and we’re thankful the government responded so quickly to the concerns raised by the community,” Borah told TSG.
Borah added that the recognition brought “a sigh of relief and joy” across the transgender community, especially for members from tribal and marginalised backgrounds.
“When we see people being empowered and accepted, it builds a beautiful aura of dignity and inclusion,” he said.
Stories of struggle behind milestone
Sanaya Oram, community mobiliser at the Kamrup Transgender One Stop Centre and a member of the Tribal-Adivasi community, stressed the importance of support systems and visibility.
“Earlier, we didn’t even think we had the right to education or to speak up. Now, this recognition empowers us to take steps not just for ourselves, but for society at large,” she said.
“My transition happened late because my family wasn’t supportive. Although they allowed me to dance, my father wanted me to focus only on studies. But now I’m happy—my mother has started supporting me,” Oram added.
She emphasised, “Hiding inside the closet is not the answer. If you don’t support yourself, no one else will. I come from the Adivasi community, and we can do so much to uplift each other. First, we must come out ourselves—only then can we help others.”
Ronnie Bhattacharjee, General Secretary of Snehbandhan, shared her emotional journey of transitioning.
“It took me 35 years because my family didn’t accept me. Society mocked me, called me names. But today, my family has accepted me—and that is where real change begins,” she said.
“You cannot expect society to change unless homes change first. Family support is the foundation of freedom,” she emphasised.
Despite facing stigma, Bhattacharjee said those hardships became her strength.
“People used to call me names—‘chakka’, ‘ladies’—but those experiences made me stronger. Now I work for the community to ensure no one else suffers like I did.”
She continued, “Even if people know what it means to be transgender, they don’t want to accept you. They just tease you— ‘hijra’, ‘kinner’, all those names. But these bad experiences motivated me to change myself and to work for the community. And that is exactly what I am doing.”
The Cabinet’s decision is part of a broader roadmap by the Assam government aimed at integrating social equity, environmental conservation, and economic development. Officials described the move as a cornerstone in building an equitable society where marginalised communities are given the platform to grow and thrive.
For many in the transgender community, this recognition is not just a policy shift—it marks the beginning of a new chapter of acceptance, opportunity, and dignity.