A delegation of members from the gender minorities and intersex communities in Karnataka, under the banner of transgender and intersex rights organisation Ondede, met Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar requesting the formation of a gender minority welfare board.

“We demand that a separate ‘Gender Minority Welfare Board’ be formed for the gender minority community and that the members of the community be appointed as the chairperson and members of the board,” read the letter submitted by the delegation which was led by activist and Ondede founder Akkai Padmashali.

A welfare board for members of the gender and sex minorities has been a long-standing demand of the community members. The group pointed to the CM that the community has been struggling against social exclusion, exploitation, violence and social injustices.

The delegation also requested the State government to promulgate an ordinance in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly against the Gender Minorities (Protection of Rights) Amendment Act, 2026, recently passed by the Central government. The members argued that the Act has recriminalised the community.

The community members also sought the inclusion of transwomen in the Women’s Reservation Act which reserves 33% of all seats in the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies for women.