Majority of transgender persons in Odisha are not ready to be identified as transgender and get officially registered due to social stigma, revealed a study. The total population of transgender in Odisha is around 70,000 of whom only 2000 agreed to be identified as transgender, the study said.

In a bid to know the status of transgender in Odisha the Social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities (SSEPD) department has assigned Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneswar to conduct the study.

"Unavailability of reliable data about the demography, socio-psychological status, education and economic status, and livelihood status and opportunities of transgender has been affecting the effective implementation of welfare schemes for them. The main objective of the study was to collect information about them to facilitate their mainstreaming in the society," said Prof Niraj Kumar faculty of XIMB, who conducted the study. Read more via Times of India