The Social Justice Department recently conducted a workshop to develop a protocol for healthcare delivery to transgender and gender-diverse individuals. The event, held over two days at the Institute of Management in Government, Thiruvananthapuram, also saw participation from the SHSRC in preparing the protocol guidelines. The workshop was inaugurated by the Honourable Social Justice and Higher Education Minister of Kerala, Dr. R Bindu. The primary aim of the workshop was to amend the current transgender policy to better reflect the present-day context. A significant focus was on addressing the mental stress that transgender individuals often face during their transition. To mitigate this, the workshop emphasized the necessity of providing proper psychological counselling and promoting the availability of counsellor facilities in all districts. Key topics addressed during the workshop included managing the mental and physical healthcare of transgender individuals, issues related to gender reassignment surgery, and post-surgery mental health care.

This workshop marks a significant step towards improving healthcare delivery and support for transgender and gender-diverse individuals in Kerala, ensuring their needs are met with sensitivity and comprehensive care.