There are 3,486 registered transgenders in Odisha. Of this, the highest number is 494 in Balangir, 400 in Angul, 395 in Khordha, 240 in Ganjam and 175 in Rayagada. The least 25 transgenders are registered in Deogarh and Subarnapur districts, the state government has informed the assembly.
Among the transgenders registered in the state, 515 are matriculated, 146 are +2, 162 are +3, 28 are post-graduates and 8 are technical education holders. Among the technical education holders, the maximum number is 5 from Cuttack. 1,022 have not passed matriculation. In response to a written question in the assembly, Social Security and Empowerment of the Disabled Minister Nityanand Gandh said that a monthly allowance of Rs. 1,000 is being provided under the Madhubabu Pension Scheme for the social security of the transgender community. Parents of transgenders below 18 years of age are getting a monthly incentive of Rs.
50,000 per group. There is a provision for providing an incentive of Rs. 50,000 per group member to transgender self-help groups. According to the various facilities provided under the ‘Swikmanthi’ scheme, pre- and post-matriculation classes are being provided for the development of transgenders. Training and skill development for employment to make them self-reliant, agile and self-reliant. Through training, they are being encouraged to get employed in government and private educational institutions based on their qualifications.
Meanwhile, third gender option added in OCS exam application form. Civil Service Exam in Odisha – 2025 has been amended in the notification. Odisha Public Service Commission (OPSC) has added third gender/transgender option in the online application form for Odisha Civil Services (OCS) Exam-2025. The OPSC has issued a notification in this regard today. The notification states, “Third gender or transgender candidates shall upload their identity certificate/card issued by the competent authority and necessary documents in support of name change after getting the recognition. Earlier, the Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) had asked the state government to include the third gender or transgender category in the recruitment examination conducted by the OPSC.
The order has been given after a third gender candidate, Soni Seal, filed an application alleging discrimination as the third gender option was not available in the online form for the upcoming examination to be conducted by the OPSC. The application process has started from January 20. In this, the posts are reserved in the categories of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, women etc. But the third gender was not given the opportunity to appear for the examination for this post.
