In an effort to make panchayats more inclusive and responsive to the needs of the transgender community, Ernakulam district panchayat will implement projects to promote their welfare, dignity and empowerment.
Initiatives focus on ensuring equitable access to basic needs such as employment support and health care, thereby creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for the community.
Discussions with community members have already taken place. “One of their main concerns is to find a safe and secure workplace. There is a need to deal with the stigma that society faces, including at workplaces. We need to ensure their overall well-being so that they can lead a more dignified life,” said district panchayat president KG Radhakrishnan.
As a pilot initiative, emphasis will be placed on training individuals who are interested in starting their own business. “A large part of the community has shown interest in cosmetology. Training in cosmetology will be provided free of charge, while subsidies will be provided to set up business enterprises. Some are interested in setting up cafes. We will deal with individual interests and formulate a program,” he said.
In the health sector, the panchayat will continue with the ‘Marivillu’ programme, but starting this year, medicines will be offered through transgender clinics. Post-operative and hormonal medications will be provided free of charge.
The civic association also plans to unite community members under one roof. The challenge facing the community is that a significant percentage of them live without their identity being made public. “They are a very scattered group. Most of them have come from different districts and settled in Ernakulam. We can only include those residents who belong to our panchayats in our welfare programmes. We are considering how to address this,” he added.
Published – 07 March 2026 19:52 IST
