DCW issues notices to Delhi, Centre over non-availability of SRS

New Delhi: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Saturday issued notices to the government in the national capital, the Centre, and the city-based Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital over the non-availability of free sex reassignment surgery (SRS).

In a statement, the DCW said that they had received a complaint from a transwoman regarding the non-availability of SRS at the Hospital.

“She said that even though free SRS has started in government hospitals, however, she was not able to get her surgery conducted in RML hospital,” DCW stated.

“Further, in November 2022, DGHS, Delhi had issued a circular which directed all government hospitals having a ‘Burn and Plastic Ward’ along with facilities of plastic surgeons to provide free SRS after the DCW had raised the issue with the department."

While issuing the notices, the DCW also asked the hospital to state the reasons for not performing the SRS of the complainant along with details of steps taken to carry out the same.

A DCW official further said that the Commission has also asked the state and union governments to provide the number of SRS performed by government hospitals in Delhi since 2022, as well as details of steps taken to ensure the free surgeries.

“The facility of free SRS should be available at all the government hospitals,” said DCW chief Swati Maliwal.

“After the efforts of DCW, the Delhi Government had instructed all the Delhi Government hospitals to provide free SRS. I have issued notice to the hospital and the health departments. We will make sure transgenders will be able to get the benefit of free SRS in all the government hospitals," she said.

With inputs from IANS