Over the past four years, a total of 457 transgender individuals have received crucial financial assistance from the government for their sex reassignment surgeries (SRS). Yet, a worrying trend has emerged: the number of beneficiaries has sharply fallen from 167 in the 2021-22 financial year to just 93 in 2024-25.
Cumulatively, ₹4.97 crore has been disbursed as aid for these surgeries between 2021-22 and 2024-25.
Data from the Social Justice department reveals that after an initial allocation of ₹1.74 crore to 167 beneficiaries in 2021-22, the assistance plummeted to ₹89.23 lakh for only 82 individuals in 2023-24. While there was a slight recovery to ₹1.02 crore for 93 beneficiaries in the subsequent year (2024-25), the overall trend remains concerning.
The government’s scheme provides financial support of up to ₹2.5 lakh for transwomen and ₹5 lakh for transmen undergoing SRS. However, this aid is disbursed only *after* the surgery is completed in an approved hospital, requiring beneficiaries to submit original bills and treatment reports. A technical committee of medical professionals thoroughly reviews each application before the funds are released.
Beyond the initial surgery, the government also offers financial assistance for post-operative care. Since 2021-22, a total of ₹1.13 crore has been allocated to 502 individuals for follow-up treatments. The peak year for this support was 2022-23, with ₹39.27 lakh reaching 165 beneficiaries. By 2024-25, however, this figure had dropped to just ₹21.09 lakh for 100 beneficiaries, mirroring the primary SRS aid reduction.
Members of the transgender community attribute this decline to several factors, primarily the significant barrier of receiving government assistance *only after* the SRS procedure has been completed. This ‘reimbursement-first’ model places the heavy burden of upfront financing on individuals, a challenge exacerbated by rising living costs. Consequently, many aspiring beneficiaries are forced to postpone or abandon their surgeries due to an inability to gather the initial funds.
While Government Medical College Hospital, Kottayam, is gaining recognition within the community for performing SRS, the majority of these procedures still occur in private facilities. Although emergency funds exist, their disbursement can be slow. Community advocates stress the urgent need for a revised system where the government provides funds *before* surgery, ensuring timely access. They also call for formal agreements between the government and private hospitals to facilitate direct and prompt financial transfers for future SRS procedures.