Following the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026, residents and staff at the shelter say the system they depend on has become a source of anxiety, raising questions around safety, documentation, and the future of State support. Six years after the landmark NALSA judgment recognised the right to self-perceived gender identity, the Bill is being seen by the trans community as a rollback of their rights. And its vague wording on criminalising persons ‘compelling’ an individual to ‘assume, adopt, or outwardly present a transgender identity’ has led to fears of misuse against shelter homes and community organisations. In the absence of communication from the government, Garima Grehs nationwide are operating under a cloud of confusion.

Vitasta Kaul reports from the ground