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Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Trans Employment Mela aims to offer mainstream jobs to members of transgender community, ETHRWorld
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals. Subscribe to Newsletter to get latest insights & analysis in your inbox. All about ETHRWorld industry right on your smartphone! Download the ETHRWorld App and get the Realtime updates and Save your favourite articles. New Delhi, The third edition of Trans Employment Mela held at Lalit Hotel here on Wednesday was attended by more than 160 aspirants from transgender community, who sought employment in various fields including HR, hotel management, IT, business analytics, logistics, fashion and initiative of the Tweet Foundation and InHarmony, held in association with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the Trans Employment Mela aimed to secure 100 placements for transgender and non-binary individuals - up from 77 last year and 58 in its first edition in participation from 17 companies, the mela featured job interviews, sensitisation workshops, networking sessions, panel discussions and performances by community about the employment drive, Abhina Aher, founder of Tweet Foundation, said there are about 15-20 lakh transgenders in India, but they do not find jobs despite being educated."Through this mela, companies will get more sensitised and hire more transgenders. The transgender community will receive more respect due to them. They will be able to earn a living and support their families," Aher Eeshwaran, founder of InHarmony, noted the importance of economic empowerment of the transgender community."If we want to empower them, we must provide them jobs. If they have jobs, they will be economically empowered and can do a lot many things. There are nearly 50 per cent transgenders who are graduates and a lot of them are first-time job seekers. Most companies who came here have never seen such a job mela where more than 160 candidates are transgenders," she mela saw the participation of leading companies like Mahindra Logistics, Karma Care, Publicis Sapient, Hexaware, EY Foundation and The of Mahindra Logistics said that the company is "committed to fostering a culture of inclusivity, equity and accessibility" to all its employees."We also ensure that we not only support but also value the diversity of our people and that it is irrespective of gender identity, nationality, race and gender orientation. We value the talent, the diverse background, education and different values that people bring with them. We have infrastructure in place, we have gender neutral washrooms. We have new parent policies in place. We have policies that focus on actually empowering people irrespective of their background," she many transgenders at the mela were first-time job seekers, not all were a 23-year-old trans person and graduate from Hindu College, shared the perspective of having worked with an MNC as a business analyst and said that even though corporates have made strides in inclusivity, there is still a long way to go."In the last 10 years, the situation has changed. Companies are becoming more accepting of the LGBTQIA community, but there is still a long way to go. Not all workplaces have gender-neutral washrooms, which creates a lot of problems for transgender and non-binary people. Also, a lot of times they don't get jobs because of their gender identities," Nitin Joshi, India's first international transgender queen, advised the community members to try and adjust to work environments where they are welcomed."It is becoming inclusive. The problem is that while there is inclusivity, there is no sensitisation happening in the corporates. People from the transgender community are very sensitive. They feel bad about small things. But we need to understand that we have to give time to other people to adjust to us. What is happening is people do get jobs, but they leave the jobs before they even get used to it," Joshi said.
Business Standard
16-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
3rd edition of Trans Employment Mela on June 18 2025 in Delhi aims for 100 jobs for transgender & non-binary candidates
VMPL Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 16: Building on the momentum of its past editions, the Trans Employment Mela is back for its third edition on June 18, 2025, in New Delhi. Organised by the TWEET Foundation and InHarmony, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE), the event continues to push forward a national dialogue on inclusive employment and economic justice for transgender and non-binary individuals. In 2024, the Mela drew 227 participants and facilitated over 77 placements across more than 20 companies, nearly doubling the placement numbers from its 2023 debut. This year, the organisers are setting a bold target of 100 placements, backed by strategic industry engagement and a growing movement to create inclusive workplaces. More than a job fair, the Trans Employment Mela is a rallying point for change--bringing together public and private sector employers, sensitisation experts, and community leaders to break down barriers and build pathways for sustainable livelihoods. Abhina Aher, Founder, TWEET Foundation, emphasized, "The Mela is not just about getting a job--it's about claiming a rightful place in the economic fabric of our country. For too long, transgender persons have been excluded from formal employment, forced into the margins despite their skills, potential, and resilience. The Trans Employment Mela is a statement that we will no longer be sidelined. We need many more such platforms that offer not only visibility but dignity, access, and equity." Anupama Easwaran, Founder, InHarmony, said, "Workplace inclusion begins with opening doors--and that's exactly what the Trans Employment Mela does. It bridges the gap between talent that's often overlooked and opportunities that can be transformative. This isn't just about ticking a diversity box--it's about building cultures where everyone is valued, where bias is actively dismantled, and where transgender and non-binary individuals can thrive as their authentic selves. We look forward to deeper and more meaningful engagement from industry leaders this year." Maya Awasthy, Co-Founder, TWEET Foundation, shared, "Every edition of the Mela is a powerful reminder that inclusion is not just an aspiration--it's an actionable goal. From 58 placements in 2023 to 77 last year, we've seen firsthand how access to dignified employment transforms lives. Our goal for 2025 is ambitious but necessary: 100 placements, 100 individuals finding not just jobs, but a renewed sense of purpose, independence, and belonging. We urge companies to step forward--not just to hire, but to learn, unlearn, and lead by example in building a truly equitable workforce." The announcement of the 3rd edition of the Trans Employment Mela was made during the annual celebrations of the TWEET Foundation, where over 300 representatives from the transgender community were present, including celebrities, allies, and dignitaries. The vibrant gathering served as a powerful reminder of the strength, unity, and resilience of the community, while also reinforcing the importance of inclusive platforms like the Mela in driving real social change. This year's edition will feature job interviews, networking sessions, corporate sensitisation workshops, panel discussions, and performances by community artists. It will also be a platform for unveiling new partnerships, tools, and frameworks that support trans-led advocacy and promote inclusive hiring across sectors. The Mela also celebrates the growing presence of transgender entrepreneurs who are breaking barriers and building businesses across industries. Their success stories not only redefine representation but also serve as powerful testimonies to the resilience, creativity, and leadership within the transgender community. Publicis Sapient returns as the Platinum Sponsor for this year, while P & G and Hexaware join as Gold Sponsors for this edition. ABOUT ORGANIZERS TWEET Foundation ( is an NGO based out of Delhi and Mumbai led by trans persons dedicated to providing the community with crisis support, short shelter stay, health and legal resources, and connecting them with skill building and inclusive employment opportunities. TWEET works closely with key stakeholders for mainstreaming advocacy for the rights of transgender persons. It works with the government to bring in policy-level changes and works with civil societies and the corporate sectors to build strategic partnerships to support the trans movement and welfare. InHarmony ( is a pioneering Diversity, Equity & Inclusion advisory firm dedicated to fostering inclusive workplaces across India. Specializing in consultancy services, training solutions, employee wellbeing programs, research, and diversity hiring support, their impact spans various industries, guiding companies in the cultivation of inclusive & equitable spaces. InHarmony's expertise encompasses gender, LGBTQIA+ individuals, persons with disabilities, and less privileged caste categories, catering to diverse age groups. It boasts a distinguished panel of experts including facilitators, coaches, psychologists, psychiatrists, and trainers, all committed to delivering bespoke, innovative solutions tailored to meet each client's unique needs. InHarmony's founder, Anupama Easwaran is a board member of TWEET Foundation working extensively with the transgender community since the past 8 years. She is the recipient of the APCOM Hero Award 2023 in the Community Ally category and a 2 time TEDx speaker. At InHarmony, their mission is to drive positive cultural change, making workplaces places where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to succeed.
