Chandigarh, 11.11.2025: The Department of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Chandigarh Administration organized Awareness-cum-Sensitization Program for Transgenders at Hotel Mountview, Sector-10, Chandigarh.
The event was graced by Sh. Satya Pal Jain, Chairman, Social Welfare Committee of Administrator’s Advisory Council, Additional Solicitor General of India & Ex. Member Parliament Lok Sabha, Mrs. Anuradha Chagti, Secretary Social Welfare, Mrs. Palika Arora, Director Social Welfare, Mrs. Shipra Bansal, Chairperson, CCPCR, Sh. Ankit Srivastava, Under Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment and Sh. Mayank Bhardwaj, National Coordinator, Smile, Transgender Persons. The members of Transgender Community, Transgender Welfare Board, Members from Anti-Discrimination Cell of Schools and Colleges also participated in the sensitization program.
In the opening remarks delivered by Mrs. Anuradha Chagti, the focus was laid on the importance of the social forum dedicated towards raising awareness about the progress made by transgender individuals and to discuss on creating more inclusive, supportive and empowering ecosystem for Transgenders. Sh. Satya Pal Jain, in his address, encouraged the participants to make collective efforts for well-being of Transgender Persons so that they can lead a dignified life and urged to carryout extensive awareness on the rights of Transgender Persons, schemes and policies pertaining to them so that maximum number of persons are provided with the benefits of welfare schemes run by the various Departments.
To mark significance of the event, cover page of PRIDE, Journal of the Centre for Trans Studies prepared by University Institute of Legal Studies, Punjab University, Chandigarh was also launched. The event was followed by panel discussion carried out by panellists Dr. Gulshan Kumar, Prof. Economics, Dr. Navneet E Arora, Prof, Department of Sociology, Dr. Upneet Kaur Mangat, Prof. Human Rights & Duties Punjab University, Dr. Sanjay Kumar Bhadada, Prof. PGIMER, Chandigarh, Mr. Ather Jung, Social Activist, Mx. Abhina Aher, Transgender Activist/Global LGBTQ & Advocate/CEO, Tweet Foundation, New Delhi and Mx. Dhananjay Chauhan, Non-Official Member of Transgender Welfare Board, Chandigarh.
The program featured discussion on creating an inclusive and empowering ecosystem for transgender wherein issues related to identity, stigma, social relationships of Transgender Persons, their inclusivity, human rights in higher education, Practical Problems of Transgender Persons in Society, Transgender Health and social welfare needs.
Further, stalls of lined departments such as Employment Exchange, DC Office, District Legal Service Authority, Aadhaar, Election Commission, Punjab National Bank, Social Welfare Department, Chandigarh Transport Undertaking, Food & Supply and Consumer Affairs and State Aids Control Society were also set up to ensure hassle free facilities are extended to transgender persons under one roof.