Centre removes age bar for CGHS medical benefits to dependent transgender children, siblings
Chandigarh, Sept 19 (UNI) Dependent transgender children and siblings of serving and retired Central Government employees can now avail medical facilities under the Central government Health Scheme (CGHS) and CS(MA) Rules, 1944, irrespective of their age, according to guidelines issued by the union Health Ministry.
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said the decision has been taken in compliance with the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The guidelines have been issued through an Office Memorandum. The relaxation, however, is subject to two key conditions. The transgender child or sibling must be wholly dependent on the Central government employee in accordance with the financial dependency limit prescribed by the ministry.
The person must also possess a certificate issued by the District Magistrate under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019. The order applies to dependent transgender children and siblings of both serving employees and pensioners and covers medical facilities under CGHS as well as the Central Services (Medical Attendance) Rules, 1944. The ministry's memorandum refers to its November 8, 2016 order prescribing the financial ceiling for determining dependency.
The 2016 order, annexed to the latest guidelines, has fixed the income limit at Rs9,000 per month plus dearness relief on the basic pension of Rs9,000, as applicable on the date of consideration. The same dependency criterion applies for determining eligibility of family members for medical facilities under the CS(MA) Rules, 1944. The latest order effectively removes the age ceiling for this category of dependants, but does not dispense with the financial-dependency requirement or the requirement for certification by the District Magistrate. The memorandum has been issued by Hemlata Singh, Under Secretary to the Government of India, with the approval of the competent authority.
