On the third anniversary of the Supreme Court verdict decriminalising homosexuality, Axis Bank announced a charter of policies and practices for its employees and customers from the LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, intersex, asexual, among others) community.
The bank said the initiative, a part of its environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments, will help promote and implement diversity, equity and inclusion.
In a landmark verdict, the Supreme Court had in September 2018 ruled that all sexual relationships between consenting adults in private should be decriminalised. “History owes an apology to the members of this community and their families, for the delay in providing redressal for the ignominy and ostracism that they have suffered through the centuries. The members of this community were compelled to live a life full of fear of reprisal and persecution,” the bank quoted Justice Indu Malhotra, who was part of the five-member bench that delivered the historic judgement on Section 377.
“In keeping with the same spirit of the apex court and the bank’s wider ESG aligned commitments, it has initiated of #ComeAsYouAre – a charter of policies and practices that embrace diversity, equity and inclusion within the organisation and for its customers,” Axis Bank said in a release.
Under the new policies, all employees of the bank can list their partners for mediclaim benefits irrespective of gender, sex and marital status, while they can also choose to use the restroom of their choice in accordance with their gender expression or gender identity. The bank said it has initiated all-gender restrooms at its large offices.
Axis Bank further said its LGBTQIA+ employees can invoke the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy and Human Rights Policy offered by the lender for redressal to challenges faced by them.
To make the banking experience inclusive for its customers, Axis Bank said it has introduced several offerings and will continue to do so in a phased manner over the coming days.
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