Latest news with #Sahodaran
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Over 250 transpersons complete vocational & IT courses, get certificates
Deena.G, a 22-year-old transman, has completed a training course on baking. He hopes to set up a small unit of his own in hospitals. 'As a nursing student, I see lot of such units offering a way to satisfy hunger of people at a crucial time. It's satisfying to see something I make bring happiness to others,' he said. Like Deena, 300 others have graduated in various vocational courses offered by Sahodaran, an NGO, CGI, an IT and business consulting firm working to uplift LGBTQIA+ community. They were collecting their certificates at an event in Chennai on Thursday. The skill development programme, which has seen three batches of 300 transpersons graduate, aims to uplift and empower transgender individuals, while also working to break down social stigma and pave the way for societal acceptance in companies. Speaking at an event, Rekha Vijayaraman, HR business partner, CGI said, 'There are two types of courses — long term and short term. The short-term courses include baking, perfume making and driving while long term courses include IT related programming languages such as JAVA and others. There are also plans to offer further training in IT-related fields which would be required for their placement.' Through this course, Sanjana.S, a transwoman, has discovered independence in driving. 'I was able to get my licence and also bought a car. 'When I stop at a tollgate, people ask in awe how I learned. Now, I can go anywhere,' she said. S. Valarmathi, MD of Tamil Nadu Working Women's Hostel Corporation Limited, urged them to get their transgender identity cards as soon as possible. K.V. Reshma, Joint Director of Rural Projects, Kasturi Prasad and Ramanand Karthigeyan - deputy chairpersons of CGI were also present at the event.
New Indian Express
20-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
No room for one's pride
Compounded discrimination 'Vaanavil' — meaning rainbow — is also used sometimes pejoratively, particularly through social media, as a label of exclusion. This extends to brokers and landlords. As a result, in Chennai, some owners prefer that the members of the LGBTQIA+ community keep their orientation hidden, so as to not 'cause discomfort' to other residents. Harish S, an arts and culture programme coordinator, shares, 'If you stay closeted, you're a coward. If you're too visible, you're a problem.' The burden multiplies for queer individuals from marginalised caste. Grace Banu, a trans woman and Dalit trans rights activist, shares that while the tenants' 'saviour complex' may extend to upper caste trans persons, the struggle worsens for Dalit and Adivasi trans persons. 'I have shifted 22 houses in 15 years,' Grace says. For most SC and ST trans people, being part of a group is the only way to obtain a rental home, she adds. She also points out that some owners survey the permanent address in their ID proofs to figure out which area (and, in turn, caste) they are from. 'Finding someone's caste is very easy in India. It starts with a simple: 'Where is your native place?' Which temple does your family worship in? What is your last name?' says an agitated Grace. This leaves most trans women with no choice but to reside in unsafe and unsanitary conditions, paying higher rent and deposit than other tenants, notes Jaya, a trans woman, general manager of Sahodaran, a trans welfare organisation. In fact, IRCDUC's (Information and Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities) rapid assessment in 2024 found that 945 elderly persons and 1,430 children were residing in the streets of Chennai, which included 14 trans persons. There is also a stigma that the community members will 'corrupt the neighbourhood' as SwethaShri says. 'Even showing your office ID is not proof enough that you work in a regular office,' she adds. Jaya says such transphobic ideas place immense burden. Landlords cite several reasons, of which the most recurring is the stigma around sex work. 'Most of them will be involved in sex work or are escaping from family; we don't want any trouble later,' says a landlord under conditions of anonymity. Jaya stresses that to find rental spaces to set up an office for the community is equally hard, even for an established trust such as Sahodaran. Even accessing land under Tamil Nadu's free patta scheme is extremely difficult for many trans people, Grace points out, as it requires an Aadhaar card — something many lack because they've fled abusive households and often have limited access to official identification. Those who have been able to avail the scheme got free pattas in remote areas, making commute a challenge, Grace adds. Trans couples who wish to live together, also struggle to find a space. In fact, a trans couple confided having to travel 35 kilometres from the outskirts of Chennai every day for work as most landlords refused to rent them houses in the city. A broker says landlords are worried that the couple will soon break up and vacate the room as they are 'not married and hence, unstable'. Moreover, lack of support from family would mean that the landlord would have to shoulder the responsibility at times of crisis, he added.
