The district collectorate witnessed high drama on Monday (November 3, 2025) when a trans woman, part of a group facing eviction from a government-funded shelter, threatened to kill herself before officials stepped in and offered temporary help.
Tense moments prevailed at the collectorate when residents of the Jyothis Bhavan Short Stay Home in Kakkanad, run by a group of nuns under the Snehajyothi Charitable Trust, gathered at the district office of the Social Justice Department to express their concerns over the move to close the facility due to alleged non-payment of dues by the government.
The residents, eight transwomen including university students, said they faced food and shelter insecurity as the trust wanted them to move out because they were unwilling to run the shelter without sufficient funding. Ministry sources said the government owes the trust around ₹10 crore in dues for the past eight months.
“The trust has informed the department of its inability to run the facility with the funds allocated under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in 2021, citing rising expenses over the years. Though after March it forwarded a request to the department to review the memorandum and standard operating procedures, no decision has been taken so far,” the sources added.
After residents raised their complaint with the district office on Monday, officials held discussions with stakeholders, including state representatives, and reached a consensus with confidence to continue operating the facility until December 31. “In the meantime, a new expression of interest will be invited to identify facilities that are interested in managing the facility,” the source said. Snehajyothi Charitable Trust is yet to respond to the development.
Amid the protest by a group backed by the Kerala Pradesh Transgender Congress, one resident of the shelter home ran up to the third floor and threatened to jump. Security and other officials intervened in time, calmed her down and prevented the attempt. The group also warned that they will remain in the collector’s premises if the authorities do not find a solution.
(Those who are in distress or suicidal can seek help on DISHA – 1056, 0471-2552056 and Maithri – 0484-2540530)
Published – 03 Nov 2025 22:19 IST
