BANGALORE: The Karnataka State Legal Services Authority on Sunday launched a 24/7 toll-free helpline to provide legal assistance to transgenders. The helpline number is 1800425-90900. Announcing the launch during the 4th District Regional Seminar on ‘Transgenders and the Law’, organised by the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority and Karnataka High Court Legal Services Authority, Supreme Court judge Altamas Kabir said, “Lack of identity has been the biggest problem faced by transgenders. From applying passport, other documents, and contesting in elections to the issue of access to a public toilet, they are still facing problems. He added that initial talks were being held to bring transgenders under the purview of the special adoption Act, which is in the planning stage.He also appreciated the effort of organisers who had brought together lawyers, doctors, students, NGO’s and transgenders on one platform to discuss issues and applauded the effort taken to bring transgenders into the mainstream.About the helpline, a member of the organising committee said, “The helpline works 24/7. A team of four lawyers — Prabha Murthy, Jayanna, Hamsa and Uma Shankar — will work in turns for six hours each. They’ll answer legal queries of transgenders calling from any part of the country.”The recommendations presented in the seminar on Sunday will be compiled and sent to the Central Government, the organisers said.
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