Hunt on for divyang-like 'respectable' coinage for transgenders

After bringing in a new law for transgender rights, the Centre is now planning to introduce a more "dignified and respectable" term to denote the third gender, just like 'Divyang' for disabled people.

ET gathers that discussions are ongoing in the government and among social groups over the right term to represent the transgender community in an appropriate and respectful manner across both government records and communication as well as general public discourse to ensure better social acceptability as well.

Various references from ancient Indian literature are under discussion.


The matter is also expected to come up at the meeting of the National Council for Transgender persons, scheduled to be held on Saturday.

Many have argued that just like terms such as 'disabled' and 'differently abled' which are not appropriate to represent people with disability, the term 'transgender' is also not the best way to denote a gender-neutral approach.

In 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself had coined the term 'Divyang' to replace 'Viklaang' from all government records and had emphasised the same should be done in common parlance as well.

A similar re-wording is planned for transgenders.

ET gathers that units of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh are also working closely on both Divyang jan- and transgender-related welfare measures and have strongly supported such a change of term based on their own ground-level discussions and feedback from the transgender community.

It is expected that an even stronger governmental outreach to the two segments will be initiated over the next few months.

The government set the ball rolling with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which came into effect in January 2020.

The government, however, is focussing strongly on social welfare outreach across marginalised segments of society.

From April 6, it will be observing the 'Samajik Nyaya' pakhwara - a fortnight on issues of social justice.