Date:15/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/15/stories/2008111551210200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Skills that could transform their lives

Staff Reporter

CHENNAI: The crowded and colourful Koyambedu flower market in the city turned into a classroom for a few hours on Thursday with a non-governmental organisation imparting training in garland-making to a group of transgenders.

The initiative, of the Madras Christian Council of Social Service, was a first step to mainstream the transgenders and provide them job opportunities. The participants of the training programme from various slums in the city were taught to make garlands by the members of the men self-help group ‘Udhayam Welfare Association’ set up by the NGO in the market.

Deftly arranging the flowers, K.Shankari, one of the participants from ICF, said, “I want to work and live a life like others. I have to pay double the rent for a small hut because I am a transgender.”

P.Shakthi Devi, a social worker with MCCSS and a transgender, said, “Many of them are willing to learn vocational skills and get out of begging and commercial sex work. As most of them are illiterate or poorly educated, we are training them for jobs according to their qualification.” Some of the transgenders are to be provided spoken English training and other skills and placed in automobile companies.

P.Karunanidhi, president of the SHG, said, “Garland makers are in great demand particularly during wedding and festive seasons. They would be able to earn Rs.200 daily by making garlands.”

R.Isabel, executive secretary of MCCSS, said a baseline survey was initiated a few months ago to study the profile of transgenders living in slums of the city and also to create awareness about their rights. About 300 such people have been identified so far for rehabilitation. While some of the trainees would get jobs in the Koyambedu market itself, the remaining would be supported to set up shops in their localities, she said.