NCP sets up LGBT cell, becomes first Indian political party to do so

The Nationalist Congress Party on Monday launched a LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender) cell in Mumbai, thus becoming the first Indian political party to have a separate cell for the community and its welfare. 

NCP Maharashtra president Jayant Patil and MP Supriya Sule formally launched the functioning of the LGBT cell in Mumbai on this day.

“In Maharashtra, the LGBT community accounts for 10% to 12% of the population. Their issues are not taken care of by the society, but through this cell we will take care of them, take initiative for equality, employment and bring them into the mainstream,” state president of the cell Priya Patil said at the launch event.

“The purpose of this cell is to solve the problems of the queer community. Social Justice Minister Dhananjay Munde had decided to set up a welfare board for the issues of the community,” Supriya Sule said in a statement.

She added, “We felt LGBT community needs equal rights, so we made a separate cell for them.”

The LGBT cell will act as a platform for integrating the community and hearing their questions.