Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has initiated a project of 12 pilot shelter homes, Garima Greh for transgender persons. To be located in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Odisha, these shelter homes will be set up by community-based organisations (CBOs) with financial assistance from the government. The Centre aims at setting up at least one Garima Greh in each Indian state, said Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment A. Narayanaswamy in Lok Sabha during the winter session.
The Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has formulated a scheme, SMILE – Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise, which includes a sub-scheme, Comprehensive Rehabilitation for Welfare of Transgender Persons. A component of this sub-scheme is to set up the Garima Grehs. One Garima Greh is already functional at Jaipur, Rajasthan, added the union minister.