India, June 19 -- After a long Covid-induced pause, Mumbai's St George Hospital has resumed free sex reassignment surgeries, offering renewed hope to individuals seeking gender-affirming care. In the last six months alone, three patients have benefited, and more are now enrolling for the procedure.

"This isn't just about surgery. It's about restoring dignity, giving people the right to live as who they are," said Dr Sagar Gundewar, head of the plastic surgery department, who revived the service post-pandemic. The department had remained non-functional during Covid-19 but is now actively treating patients from across Maharashtra.

The push for such services gained public momentum after the 2018 case of Lalita Salve, a police constable fro...