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Three months aft the Delhi authorities launched ‘Saheli’ cards, promising escaped autobus question for women and transgender persons, galore transgender residents accidental they are being denied the cards astatine organisation centres.
In March 2025, the Delhi authorities announced that women and transgender persons volition beryllium eligible for escaped question connected metropolis buses done pinkish cards. The strategy was officially launched connected March 2 this year. However, visits by The Hindu to 5 organisation centres and interviews with applicants revealed that transgender persons are mostly incapable to get the cards contempt being listed arsenic eligible beneficiaries. At 4 of the 5 centres visited, officials said the cards were not issued to transgender persons contempt the paper explicitly mentioning “female/transgender”. At 1 centre, officials agreed to contented the paper lone aft this was pointed out.
Ground realities
Vishakha, 23, who works with a non-profit organisation, said she visited the Sub-Divisional Magistrate’s bureau in Tughlaqabad last period to use for a pinkish paper utilizing her transgender individuality paper issued by the Central government. “My Aadhaar Card says ‘transgender’, and I place arsenic a trans woman. Despite that, officials passed my Aadhaar to 5 antithetic persons but refused to contented a pinkish card,” she said.
The officials issued her a rechargeable bluish card, which is meant for antheral passengers and does not supply escaped question benefits. While officials astatine respective centres denied that transgender persons were eligible for the scheme, a elder Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) authoritative noted that they were covered nether it. “All women and transgender persons are eligible for these cards. No 1 tin beryllium denied issuance of these cards if they are eligible,” the authoritative said.
Despite these assurances, transgender applicants proceed to study difficulties. Bobby, 35, a caterer, said they were directed to the queue for bluish cards erstwhile they approached officials astatine the District Magistrate’s bureau in Mehrauli.
“I was told the strategy was lone for females. It was easier earlier with pinkish tickets. We could get them connected the spot from conductors, and sometimes they would themselves connection the tickets to us,” Bobby said.
Senior Transport Department officials said the pinkish summons system will beryllium phased retired gradually. The authorities had extended the strategy for 3 much months successful March.
‘Not eligible’
At the DTC bus walk antagonistic astatine ITO, employees told The Hindu they had been instructed by elder officials not to contented cards to transgender persons. “The proviso was discontinued a fewer weeks aft the strategy was rolled out,” 1 worker said.
An authoritative astatine the Shadipur bus depot said transgender persons had ne'er been identified arsenic eligible beneficiaries successful the instructions received by staff.
She added that the backend system lone accepts Aadhaar cards wherever the sex is listed arsenic “female”.
Surpiya (name changed) obtained a pinkish paper astatine the south-east Delhi District Magistrate’s bureau due to the fact that her Aadhaar listed her sex arsenic female. Even then, she said she faced difficulties utilizing it. “Whenever I pat my paper connected the machine, it asks maine to verify its validity,” she said.
However, astatine the DTC depot successful Nehru Place, an authoritative said transgender persons were eligible for the paper erstwhile it was pointed retired that the words ‘female/transgender’ were printed connected the backmost broadside of the card.
“It volition beryllium issued if they travel with their Aadhaar,” the authoritative said, adding, “Most people, including authorities officials, bash not work the instructions.”
(With inputs from Mahima Rao)
