Bhubaneswar, 24 April (H.S.): The Odisha Government has reconstituted the State Transgender Welfare Board, issuing a revised notification within two days of withdrawing its earlier order, officials said.

According to the fresh notification, the Board has been restructured as part of an administrative overhaul aimed at enhancing its effectiveness and coordination. A key change in the new composition is the appointment of the SSEPD (Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities) Minister as the Chairperson, replacing the earlier provision under which the Chief Secretary held the post.

Under the revised structure, the Principal Secretary of the SSEPD Department will function as the Vice-Chairperson, while the Department’s Director has been designated as the Member Secretary.

The Board comprises senior officials including the Director General of Police, representatives from multiple government departments, and district Collectors of Bolangir, Angul, and Khordha as members.

In a significant step towards inclusive representation, members of the transgender community—Dipti Ranjan Mohapatra and Soummya Das—have also been included in the Board.

Officials stated that the reconstitution is intended to strengthen institutional mechanisms for safeguarding the rights of transgender persons and promoting their welfare. The revamped structure is expected to improve inter-departmental coordination and ensure more effective implementation of policies and programs aimed at the transgender community.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda