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Economic Security towards empowerment of socially ostracized Transgender Community at Tirunelveli region, India.
Having been disturbed by the physical, mental, social, economic, vocational, psychological and emotional problems needs, issues & challenges encountered by Transgenders community, a typical group, with the different & peculiar attitudes, values & behaviors in their life style and who have long been living in dehumanized living conditions insolating themselves from the mainstream of development and been subjected to constant oppressions sexual exploitations in their struggle for basic livelihood, PACHE TRUST wanted to help to address to their genuine grievances in leading a true and dignified life. To this end, during HIV/AIDS intervention project (prevention and control of HIV/AIDS), we had a meaningful dialogue with the members of TG community at Tirunelveli region and based on the outcome of problems analytical & need assessment study, we were able to evolve concrete said special package of development Programme which would ensure their socio economic upliftment and strengthen the process of real empowerment and forwarded the proposal to your esteemed organization for possible funding.
Ananda, Belgium is so generous in understanding the vital & crucial problems & needs of TG community and has come forward to be a meaningful partner in the developmental ventures of “PACHE TRUST”, Madurai, India.
Now we are happy to present to you the details of progress that the project has made, its implications, impediments, corrective steps undertaken by us to overcome the hurdles etc.
Following are a few major aims & objectives which the project intended to achieve.
a) To enable the disorganized TG community at Tirunelveli region to come and act together under one roof paving way for their own development mainly focusing on key issues, problems & needs.
b) To help to acquire special skills, knowledges, talents & capacities on selected economic trades which have ample scope for chances of their future employability (employment / self-employment) and thereby provide opportunities for alternative
employment (deviation from their traditional main path of livelihood i.e., begging, involvement in sexual activities) and undertake in come generation activities, either individually or as a group depending upon the nature, type & levels of economic activities.
c) To facilitate & strengthen the process of empowerment of TG community by way of helping to promote 3 major key elements such as confidence, capabilities and Access to capital which would ultimately lead them towards reintegration into society & process of development, changing their (target groups & local community) mindset that they are not burden but assets for their families and society.
d)To motivate the members of TG community to overcome to the problems of isolation, physical, mental & sexual abuse, neglect, discrimination, stigmatization, fear & anxiety, exploitation, eve teasing, various forms of oppressions and harassment by way of equipping their knowledge on legal provisions in the constitution of India safe guarding, protecting & promoting the interests & rights of these groups and means and modes of initiating legal proceedings against the culprits besides members to become aware of various welfare measures / schemes initiated by state & central government for their social & economical wellbeing.
e) To prepare the TG members to form Network groups and effectively engage in advocacy & lobbying works mainly highlighting their urgent & genuine needs, seeking government intervention in evolving suitable mechanisms which would help to redress to their grievances.
f) To work to involve the local community in social and cultural events & common programs so as help to broaden their social thinking, vision & mission towards true understanding of social, cultural, economic, emotional challenges encountered by TG community and promoting the aspects of caring, sharing, loving etc.,
Education and economic development should go hand in hand. Mere charity-oriented approaches will never yield fruitful results and the process of self-sustenance cannot be initiated and strengthened among TG community without imparting intensive & extensive trainings on development – nature, levels & types, methods, different strategies, approaches and techniques involved in development process. Hence, we organized- participatory training on development focusing on the vital & pressing problems, issues, needs & challenges, generally faced by TG community in which 46 members attended. It is a new kind of experience for the members as they have not been exposed to such kind of trainings in the past. During sharing meetings, the members expressed their keen interests in attending such meetings, training & seminars.
They are of the strong view that these kinds of trainings help them to realize their latent & overt potentials, social & civic responsibilities, need for developing, promoting & strengthening leadership qualities which would help them to act in a more organized manner, take up issues, build confidence & self-determination.
It is most unfortunate and sorry state of affairs that the members of TG community have been trained to accept the traditional values & norms that they are inferior, less productive or not productive at all and the factors mainly contributed for their backward thinking & inferiority complexes are general apathy, heartedness, eve teasing, physical & sexual abuse, ill-treatment, harassment, exploitation at all possible ways. They are either unaware of tapping the available resources in the community or lack of access to the various resources such as educations, vocational, health & nutrition, insurance, public facilities, economical, training & employment cultural etc. under one pretext or the other the opportunities for availing benefits of various resources are denied to them. Neglect, discrimination, isolation & stigmatization not only from the general public but by their own families, they are left with no other option than engaging in beggary & sexual activities.
Now with educational inputs provided by us during intervention as part of HIV/AIDS prevention & control and because of our personal rapport and close interactions, PACHE TRUST was able to initiate positive changes in their mindset. (Positive attitudes, values, behaviors, we are slowly able to promote among the members).
For their socio-economic upliftment which would lead to strengthening the process of empowerment in all aspects of life. We paved way of opening of new avenues towards their skill development on technical & non-technical economic trades and undertaking income generation activities besides finding employment in the available job market.
As a result of need-based trainings for the members of TG community over the significance of equipping skills, knowledge & capacities on suitable & interested economic trades which would help to increase their chance of employability in future and thereby help to stand on their own foot with human dignity, self-respect, self-worth, we helped them to under go training on tailoring & embroidery (23 persons), beautician course (no.s 3 ), catering service (no.s 11), computer (no.s 3). The training includes both theory & practical and duration of training depends upon the trade which they choose. Self-confidence, self-determination, courage to face socio-economic challenges etc. have been developed among the trainees. Collaboration with district administration and district welfare board was ensured by us.
Apart from financial assistance by PACHE TRUST, we also motivated the Group members to avail the benefits of govt. programs / schemes. Now members are engaged in mobile catering services (no.s 10), tailoring & embroidery (no.s 1), rearing
of goats & mulch animals (no.s 13) as part of self-employment program (no.s 3) members have found employment in private concern.
The financial assistance offered by PACHE TRUST is being treated as interest free loan and is being utilized as “revolving fund”. The members are trained / motivated to repay the amount in easy instalments so that it could be utilized for the economic well being of other members. The concept, nature, purposes of revolving fund are clearly explained to the members for their better understanding & proper utilization of funds. Necessary preparatory works (feasibility and technical/viability study) were undertaken by us. We ensure close monitoring, supervision, evaluation so as to provide necessary guidance to stream line economic activities.
During periodical group sharing meetings, those who are engaged in economic activities share their experiences including certain difficulties. Other members counsel & guide them properly. We observe co-operation, enthusiasm and support & help from the local community for the economic initiative of TG community members. It has begun to produce its own positive impacts not only in their economic living conditions but also in their attitudes, values, behaviors. Enthused by the success of the program especially mobile catering services, “PACHE TRUST” is approaching the district administration & other govt. departments especially welfare board to try to help to expand economic units so that several members can benefit from these services.
The local community which once looked down upon the TG community members with fear & contempt have now begun to treat them properly and there has been overwhelming positive response and support for the initiatives of TG community members. To an extent, because of our timely intervention especially in terms of providing opportunities for alternative skill training and employment for member of TG community, time, energy, labour, skills, talents are channelized for constructive purpose and district administration and local police department are quite relieved of law-and-order problem which they have been facing in the past.
With a view to empower the members of TG community in all aspects of life, help them to increase their bargaining power, social responsibilities, initiate and sustain the process of self-reliance, members are trained to equip and enhance their knowledge, skills, talents, capacities and capabilities in early access to various resources social, educational, vocational, health care, nutrition and treatment, economical, training and employment and public facilities. These are all new things which they have begun to learn and its impact will be reflected in the years to come. We have just begun to sow seeds of courage, confidence and self-determination among the members.
It is generally observed that as most of the members from TG community are illiterates and ignorant, they are unaware of legal provisions in the constitution of India especially with regard to the recently amended TG act which safeguards, protects and promotes the interests and rights of TG members. Hence PACHE TRUST organized legal awareness trainings in which 49 persons actively participated. The socially committed and experienced lawyer clarified their doubts. Taking advantage of their ignorance, deplorable living conditions certain vested interest practice atrocities, several forms of oppressions in serious of fundamental human rights. Depending upon the need 6 persons were helped to initiate legal proceedings against the culprits. They hope to seek justice and are confident of winning legal cases mainly concerning share in the property, denial of benefits under health care and treatment, insurance and public facilities including housing.
Some members from TG community as they are driven away from their own families are either living in streets or in other TG member’s families. They are deprived of residential facilities, Because of our right type of guidance, they submitted petition to the district administration and housing department to allocate houses for dwelling purposes. 18 Persons from TG community were able to get allotment of houses in housing board colony at Tirunelveli.
In the same manner because of continuous and untiring efforts 110 members were able to receive TG identity cards based on the rules, norms, procedures and other criteria followed by district welfare board. These identity cards (TG) help to avail several concessions and benefits of various schemes implemented by the government.
With the view to streamline the development activities, attract the attention of the Government, general public &various departments including NGOs and service clubs over the issues, problems, needs and challenges faced by TG community members and to find long lasting solutions, the TG community members concentrated by PACHE TRUST is working hard to form networking of likeminded TG groups which would strive hard for their holistic development. Networking of TG community member groups would help to strengthen the efforts of solving several issues, problems and needs and it would act with a spirit of fellowship, solidarity and cooperation. Their voices will be heard at the appropriate platforms.
With a view to attract the attention of the govt and general community and there by respond to their long-felt issues and needs, the network groups will actively involve in advocacy and works. These will be done in a more peaceful and democratic manner. They are trying to approach the newly elected local representative of their areas (villages, Panchayat unions, town municipalities and corporation) and explain to them their sensitive demands / grievances and request them to take early actions.
In view of festival celebrations and other occasions marking special days of observance like Human Rights Day, TG Day, International women’s day, World AIDS day, children’s day etc., the transgender community is encouraged to organize special events involving eminent persons from different walks of life, especially officers from various departments, Doctors, Lawyers, Teacher, elected local body representatives, NGOs, members of service Clubs etc., and exhibit their various skills, talents. We arrange for motivational speech. These events help to promote &strengthen the aspects of fellowship, solidarity, Cooperation, unity, Love and affection, caring &sharing. Moreover, it becomes imperative to serve as an occasion in the context of aiming for reintegration of TG community into main stream of society. The participation of local community helps them to understand the situation under which TG community live and struggle for their basic livelihood and fight for their basic fundamental civil human rights and realize the need to extend cooperation, help& support for their causes.
From its several years of developmental experience, PACHE TRUST is fully aware of the fact that success of any developmental Programme or initiative depends upon the effective & timely supervision, close monitoring & periodical evaluation of activities. Records, charts, document are maintained and progress is registered. we try to ensure that there is no deviation from its original plans & objectives. Necessary guidance is given to project personnel, project volunteers, & potential leaders of the project. Various indicators are fixed to assess the impacts of Programme and accordingly suitable techniques strategies & approaches are being adopted based on the situation and need so as to successfully realize the project goals.
Even though the project execution was on the right track making desirable positive impacts. yet we experienced certain practical difficulties mainly due to Covid-19, omicron situations and other subsequent now health phenomenon. Because of partial & complete lockdown we were facing much hardships to organize get together dialogue meetings. TG community members were looking for help especially with regards to supply of essential food and medicines commodities. Contacts with potential volunteers & leaders were maintained through online. supply of food materials collected from philanthropists; well-wishers & govt. departments, were supplied to the members through door delivery. The members engaged in economic activities faced much hardships in earning for their livelihood. Because of two wheelers & four-wheeler support we were able to reach out to the families and offer services. Rivalry based on personal ego clashes among TG community members affect a lot and it requires our frequent intervention. This is a quit common factor / characteristic associated with the qualities of TG community members. we are trying to change the situation. District Administration & local police department always seek the co-operation, help& support of PACHE TRUST in resolving disputes / problems among TG members which sometimes affect the law & order situation in the area. PACHE TRUST has now been identified by the District Administration & other govt departments as an organization effectively & efficiently working for the correction, welfare, reformation & rehabilitation of TG community at Tirunelveli region. Our services for TG community have been well recognized and we have been rewarded for our services. The entire credit goes to ANANDA Belgium.
Based on the criteria followed by Govt. Evaluation team PACHE TRUST has been given “A” Grade for its HIV/AIDS prevention & control activities.
Even though the achievements of PACHE TRUST seem to be microscopic when compared to the distance of destination that it has to reach, yet the project is on the right track. We hope to further achieve a lot in the coming years. The project has begun to serve as an eye opener as several govt departments. NGO & Service clubs have begun to visit the project and interact with us. But for the timely help of Ananda Belgium, it would not have been possible. We remember it with a sense of pride, satisfaction & gratitude.
Let us not forget that educating and Organising the TG community is not an easy task but an uphill task, yet “Ananda” because of its special interests in taking up real challenges of issues which in fact involves several risks encourage “PACHE TRUST “to work for the empowerment of difficult & typical target groups who can not be ignored but to be cared with the intention of helping to join the mainstream of society& development process. Many…. Many thanks for Ananda to help PACHE TRUST to undertake novel, exciting, model &innovation development projects. The faith and confidence reposed on us by Ananda really motivates “PACHE TRUST” to sincerely put lot of efforts in succeeding the Programme with greater responsibilities.
