Kalyan gets shelter for transgenders
KALYAN: Urmila Kamble, 58, a transgender person from Ambernath, was in search of a shelter after her retirement as a sweeper at Ambernath Municipal Council (AMC). She used to live with her relatives and family members, but was not supported by them. The newly opened dedicated shelter home for members of the transgender community at Kalyan’s Dawrli Naka came as a relief to her.
The shelter home named Garima Greh is the first one for transgender persons in Maharashtra, of the three sanctioned so far. The shelter has been set up by the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD).
“My family neglected me after the retirement. I used to stay with them but somehow I wanted to leave and be independent. I retired four years ago, and since then it was a struggle on a daily basis. The shelter home is a major blessing to me. Now I don’t have to worry about being asked to move out,” said
Kamble, who now has a steady roof over her head.
“We had been planning to open a shelter home for transgender persons since the last four-five years. A year ago, a proposal was made for the same to NISD, and now the shelter home is ready, and we are running it,” said Neeta Kene, 43, president of NGO Kinnar Asmita.
The shelter home presently has 25 residents who came from different cities like Nashik, Ambernath as well as states such as Uttar Pradesh.
“There are several transgender who end up either begging or doing sex work. They do it due to the situations they face. We are trying to find out such people and bring them to the shelter,” added Kene.
The shelter home will have learning activities for residents such as candle making, baking, beautician course, paper bag making. The products will then be promoted it in the market for sale. NGO Vanya Foundation has decided to provide computers to the shelter and start a training programme too.