Telangana To Have First Shelter Home for Transgenders

Hyderabad: For the first time ever, the state government will be setting up a shelter home for transgender persons, to cater to the basic needs of the community, provide counselling and provide skills training.

This is the second major initiative for the community, after the introduction of members of the transgenders community into the traffic police as assistants. The health department has also announced clinics for the community in all districts.

In its latest move, the department for empowerment of persons with disability, senior citizens and transgender persons has invited applications from NGOs for the setting up of a state shelter home. The shelter will provide food, medical care and recreational facilities for those facing social, psychological and economic constraints.

The shelter will also support transgender community members in building up their skills and capacities to help them find employment.

The shelter will liaison with legal experts and psychological counsellors to help transgender persons to realign with their family members.

Asked about the development, Rachana Mudraboyina, transgender activist, welcomed the move but said there was nothing new about it, and the community was running similar centres for its members.

“These centres will not be permanent shelters for the members but will only act as gathering and learning spaces. We already have such spaces like the Queer and Trans Centre run by the community members themselves,” Mudraboyina told Deccan Chronicle.

Mudraboyina expressed the apprehension that these spaces would also eventually sidelined the needs of the transgender communities and might begin to be used as homes for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

“Hence, the success of such an initiative relies on how it is managed, who comes forward to run the centres and whether persons from the community are invited to run the shelters,” Mudraboyina said.

This measure is in line with other governmental initiatives like the recently launched pilot project for the recruitment of transgender persons in the police department. “It has seen success within the community. It is working and people are going for training sessions. The government has also responded positively to our demands of providing homes and post-retirement pension plans for the recruits,” Mudraboyina said.

The health department has also announced Maitreyi clinics for transgender persons in each district.

The shelter at the moment, will provide accommodation and other facilities for limited people. "The plan will further materialise once the applications are received. We want only the organisations working closely with transgender persons to apply," said an official from the department. The applicants need to download the form from the website (www.wdsc.telangana.gov.in) and submit it to the director of the department.

"After reviewing the applications only we would be able to proceed further in terms of contracts and MoUs," the official said.

As for whether the government will provide the funds or the space for the shelters is unclear yet, the official added.