The Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram today introduced a new health insurance scheme for transgenders and marginalized women to facilitate their access to professional health services

The insurance cover will benefit transgenders and marginalized women across the state.

The health insurance will be for a year starting from July 1 2007 to June 30, 2008. To start the program the Tamil Nadu Aids Imitative and Vimosewa have tied up with eight hospitals, identified by the community members in Salem district to extend medical facilities under the scheme.

Mr Chidambaram assured that the government would take initiatives to make sure that transgender enjoy all rights.

He encouraged them to ‘emerge’ from their low self-esteem and lead a normal life.

Mr Chidambaram added that ”An awareness has to be created among the transgender about their citizenship, rights to live and their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS”.