Kerala, August 6: Kerala government has announced its latest initiative for the upliftment of the transgender community. After looking at their education, and jobs, the state government will now pay for sex-change surgeries of transgenders, and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced this on his Facebook account. Rs 2 lakh will be reimbursed as hospital expenses for each transgender undergoing a sex change. For those who have already gone through the surgery can ask for assistance.

In his statement, Pinarayi said that financial constraints wouldn't come in the way of a transgender who wishes to live as a man or a woman. In 2015, Kerala was also the first state to announce a transgender policy in 2015. The surgery can be conducted in the state or outside.

In June, when the deadly Nipah virus was taking a toll on several lives in Kerala, Pinarayi announced that the government would foot all the medical bills for those being treated for the disease.  Recently a 'mentally unsound' man forced his way into the Kerala House near Connaught Place, and threatened to 'finish' CM Pinarayi.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 06, 2018 01:04 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).