Why securing a transgender ID in Delhi feels like an obstacle race

The year 2024 marks a decade since the landmark NALSA judgement that recognised the rights of transgender persons in India. But Delhi’s transgender community continues to face an uphill battle for basic recognition and access to essential services.

Bureaucratic red tape, insensitive verification processes and the absence of systemic accountability make it nearly impossible for many trans individuals to secure essential identity documents such as the transgender ID card, which is also a crucial document for accessing healthcare, employment, and education.

For activists like Pari, a trans woman working at Delhi’s Naz Foundation, the numbers are telling: out of the 75 people she has helped apply for certificates, only two have been successful. Her own reluctance to apply stems from the same fears that paralyse much of the community – an exhausting maze of paperwork, multiple office visits and the threat of family rejection.

The transgender identity certificate is designed to provide transgender individuals with formal recognition, enabling access to government assistance and facilitating name and gender updates on official documents to mitigate instances of discrimination.

To streamline the process of issuing the certificates, the government had launched the SMILE (Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood & Enterprise) portal. This online platform offers access to various support services,...

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