The pandemic restrictions robbed the community of their livelihood options
The transgender people, who have very little means of earning a living other than begging and sex work, took a massive hit when the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic restricted movement and business activities.
The neglected community that is already ostracised saw their income dwindle to nearly nothing, even as access to social services remained limited.
The pandemic, however, can retrain focus on their livelihood reform: New work avenues that are safer and provide the opportunity to lead dignified lives can be created while building back as normalcy returns.
“No one wants to beg,” said Madhuri Maa, a 45-year-old transwoman from Bhubaneswar.
Members of the community used to earn Rs 300 each day before the pandemic but during the second wave, this income vanished completely, said Phula Kinnar, a transwoman from Sahidnagar. She added:
Harassment is very common in what we do. We are often called chhakka, pena, maichiya and other slangs. We ignore such behaviour just because we have to work if we want food on our plate.”
Governments and the civil society actors can change this and provide sustainable livelihoods by making a concerted effort.
Most transgenders contract from HIV-AIDS, which makes them all the more prone to health issues throughout their lives. The mortality rate in the community due to the infection is 38.6 per cent. They constitute 17.85 per cent of the total cases undergoing anti-retroviral therapy for HIV.
The community’s national population of 487,803 has a literacy rate of 56.07 per cent.
There are several provisions in the Indian constitution to safeguard transgender people: Article 15 that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation as well as gender identity and Article 21 that ensures the right to a safe, dignified life. Yet, we don’t have an efficient framework to support the community in India.
Several state-specific measures for transgender peopls have been taken over the years in Kerala (housing projects for homeless and skill building), Tamil Nadu (welfare scheme providing self-employment grants for small businesses, vocational training or material support).
In 2017, Odisha implemented the Sweekruti scheme for the promotion of transgender equality and justice to shield the trans community from discrimination as well as provide them with opportunities for employment and scholarships.
There are several civil society initiatives and youth-driven forums that try to induce social change in the transgender community. AIRA, a local NGO in Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, for instance, provides livelihood and skill training in mushroom and fish cultivation, vegetable farming, cattle husbandry and paper bag-making to people from the community.
The India chapter of ActionAid, an international non-profit for social justice, has worked several years for the identification, strengthening of the transgender community, leadership building and creating platform for assertion of their rights and inclusion, in collaboration with state and central government agencies.
The organisation has also moved to prevent the trans people from HIV infections and facilitating their care, treatment and government benefits.
There are eight transwomen in Bhubaneswar’s Vani Vihar Kinnar Basti who sought help from ActionAid for establishing small businesses and shops to sell fish or poultry.
They were severely hit by COVID-19 lockdowns and couldn’t do business at bus stops or train stations around their neighbourhood. They lived entirely on cash and welfare support during these months. Their chief, Madhuri Maa, said:
When I left home as a child, I didn’t have a lot of dreams. But I imagined some day I will have something of my own like a chicken shop, where I will serve customers and live a life of dignity.
Inclusion of transgender people as a separate group during census data collection with segregated details of age, region, employment, religion caste is among the measures required to improve their condition. The constriction of data has led to a lack of enough research and development for the community.
Identification and registration of transgender persons are also needed so that they can avail resources provisioned for them.
The following social security measures can shape a better life for them:
At the state level, a separate commission should be to address the issues of transgenders and effectively coordinate with the state government. The mainstreaming of the development actions for transgenders by different departments is necessary.
A periodic review by the National Council for Transgender Persons for the effective formulation of pro-transgender policies, programs, legislation and projects is imperative.
Regular monitoring of the progress, impact and greater involvement of transgender people has tp be carried out. A dignified living for the members of the community can be ensured through allocation of homestead land, housing and other basic facilities.
Views expressed are the authors’ own and don’t necessarily reflect those of Down To Earth
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