“As the world comes together, India’s transgender community fights COVID-19 alone”, Amnesty International India.
Unlike thousands of migrant workers, the transgender community in India is left helpless amidst this pandemic. According to the 2011 census, there are nearly 5 Lakh transgenders across India. Most of them being daily wage workers involved in begging and sex work, the gravity of the current situation is affecting them worse. Through the course of time, we had also heard rumours that Covid is spreading primarily through transgenders that resulted in them being thrown out of their rented homes at various cities across India. Due to the absence of proper ID cards, members of LGBTQ community are not eligible to avail any welfare initiatives by the government. Perhaps, starvation and desperation serve as the major causes of their suffering rather than the grieve of covid pandemic.
“Suspected of carrying the Covid-19 infection, a 19-year-old woman from Delhi’s Patparganj area died last month after allegedly getting thrown off a bus in Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district” – Times of India
Apart from Kerala, no other state took any favorable measure to address the plight of sexual minorities. Every passing day turns out to be a lifetime struggle for both food and their other basic necessities. Hospitals are even hesitant to admit covid affected transgender individuals.
CHANGE TRUST
Change trust, Based in Coimbatore is fast addressing transgender’s plight across the city since the day of lockdown. The trust is headed by Dr.Thaslima Nasreen, A transgender woman from Thirupur. Being a victim of discrimination herself, she is striving hard to ensure a safe and dignified life for all transgenders. Taslima personally has trained over fifty transgender women in cooking, thereby paving the way for their independence.
Initiated in 2015, Change trust has been undertaking various moves for the welfare of transgender people. A chef by herself, Thaslima has personally trained and helped many transgenders start their own catering business, now serving across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Through Change trust she has also taught Computer training, Jewel making sessions and tailoring to transwomen. She has been awarded and recognized by leading newspaper magazines and various other institutions for her splendid work caring for the welfare of the transgenders and people at large.
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