Transgender rights activist from Pollachi near Coimbatore, Kalki Subramaniam resigned from NCTP after the Lok Sabha passed the Transgender Persons Amendment Bill 2026, citing lack of consultation and rights concerns.
Coimbatore:
Kalki Subramaniam a transgender rights activist from Pollachi near Coimbatore, has resigned from her position as Member and Southern States Representative of the [National Council for Transgender Persons](chatgpt://generic-entity?number=1) following the passage of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.
Kalki Subramaniam is widely recognised for her work in advocating transgender rights, social inclusion and gender equality. She is the founder of the Sahodari Foundation, which works towards empowering transgender persons through education, employment and legal support. Apart from activism, she is also an accomplished artist, writer and public speaker, and has represented India at several international forums on gender rights.
In her resignation letter addressed to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, she cited the lack of consultation with the NCTP as a key reason for stepping down. The council is a statutory body meant to advise the government on policies affecting transgender persons.
Subramaniam expressed concern that the amendment introduces a restrictive framework on gender identity and removes the right to self-identification, which has been strongly opposed by members of the transgender and intersex community.
In a statement, she said she could not continue in a role where the voices of the community she represents were not being adequately considered. She described the Bill as affecting the dignity and constitutional rights of transgender persons and erasing diverse gender identities across regions.
She further stated that as a representative of transgender persons across southern India and the country, she chose to stand with the community rather than continue in an official position.
Until recently, Subramaniam had been actively involved in advocating for inclusive policies within the Ministry. However, she termed the recent legislative development as one that overlooks key judicial principles, including those laid down in the [NALSA v. Union of India](chatgpt://generic-entity?number=2) judgment of the Supreme Court, which recognised the rights of transgender persons.
Following her resignation, she is expected to continue her work through the Sahodari Foundation and pursue legal recourse against the amendment by supporting a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court.
Kalki Subramaniam a transgender rights activist from Pollachi near Coimbatore, has resigned from her position as Member and Southern States Representative of the [National Council for Transgender Persons](chatgpt://generic-entity?number=1) following the passage of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Amendment Bill, 2026 in the Lok Sabha.
Kalki Subramaniam is widely recognised for her work in advocating transgender rights, social inclusion and gender equality. She is the founder of the Sahodari Foundation, which works towards empowering transgender persons through education, employment and legal support. Apart from activism, she is also an accomplished artist, writer and public speaker, and has represented India at several international forums on gender rights.
In her resignation letter addressed to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, she cited the lack of consultation with the NCTP as a key reason for stepping down. The council is a statutory body meant to advise the government on policies affecting transgender persons.
Subramaniam expressed concern that the amendment introduces a restrictive framework on gender identity and removes the right to self-identification, which has been strongly opposed by members of the transgender and intersex community.
In a statement, she said she could not continue in a role where the voices of the community she represents were not being adequately considered. She described the Bill as affecting the dignity and constitutional rights of transgender persons and erasing diverse gender identities across regions.
She further stated that as a representative of transgender persons across southern India and the country, she chose to stand with the community rather than continue in an official position.
Until recently, Subramaniam had been actively involved in advocating for inclusive policies within the Ministry. However, she termed the recent legislative development as one that overlooks key judicial principles, including those laid down in the [NALSA v. Union of India](chatgpt://generic-entity?number=2) judgment of the Supreme Court, which recognised the rights of transgender persons.
Following her resignation, she is expected to continue her work through the Sahodari Foundation and pursue legal recourse against the amendment by supporting a Public Interest Litigation in the Supreme Court.