Considering the inconveniences and problems faced by transgenders, who recently returned to the state, in being put up together with either male or female inmates in quarantine centres, the state government has opened two separate quarantine spaces meant for the transgenders.
To quarantine those coming from Red Zones, Health and family welfare director, Dr K Rajo on Wednesday issued a letter for designation of a separate wing for transgenders at the current institutional quarantine centre at Maria Montessori Higher Secondary School, Koirengai, Imphal East.
The letter also declared the quarantine centre at Government Ideal Blind School, Takyelpat, Imphal West as a dedicated institutional quarantine centre for transgenders returning from Green Zones and Orange Zones.
In the meantime, a release issued by social welfare director, Ngangom Uttam stated that a total of 40 transgender returnees are expected to require separate quarantine facility. The current set up at Government Ideal Blind School can accommodate 24 persons and the remaining can be accommodated at Maria Montessori Higher Secondary School, Koirengai, it said. The capacity of the centre can be enhanced as per requirement, it added.
The stranded transgenders can also be quarantined at the community quarantine centres managed by local authorities provided that a separate block is allocated to ensure privacy and emotional security, it stated.
The release also said that it was considered prudent to open separate quarantine centre for the transgenders so as to ensure emotional security to the persons belonging to the third gender during the current pandemic.
Consequently, the department of health and family welfare was requested to declare/designate the said institutes as quarantine centres specially meant for the transgenders of Manipur.
It also intimated that the health department has provided masks, sanitisers, gloves, PPEs, goggles, sodium hypochlorite solution, etc. for use in the transgender quarantine centre at Takyelpat.
The release informed that deputy director (children programme), K Saroja, (mobile number 7005018575), is the overall in-charge of the said transgender quarantine centre at the Government Ideal Blind School, Takyelpat, Imphal West.
It further appealed to the general public to stay vigilant and observe basic precautionary measures like washing hands frequently with soap for 20 seconds, maintaining physical distance and wearing of face masks to fight COVID-19.
