Mumbai now has a salon run by trans community

On Saturday, Mumbai became home to a salon run by the transgender community. Called TransFormation Salon, the outlet in Prabhadevi is an attempt to promote equitable livelihood. Besides catering to the transgender community, the salon is open for all.

Beautician Shyamali Pujari, a transgender, believes that the salon is a space where she can be herself. “I started from the by lanes of Kamathipura (an area in Mumbai) and I have reached here today. I want people to realise that trans people can be skilled and trained. We can also be a part of the mainstream like anyone else,” says Pujari, who is now a trained beautician.

Born as an intersex, Aslam S trained to become a beautician and makeup artist. “I always wanted a job with dignity in a space where I am comfortable. Now, I wish to become manager of the salon some day. This salon has given me hope,” says Aslam.

Zainab Patel from Pride Business Foundation was the brain behind the salon, as she worked in tandem with the Rotary Club of Bombay. “I don’t want to set up enterprises that only employ people. I want ownership of the initiative,” she shares.

Sandip Agarwalla, District

Governor of Rotary International District adds that the idea is to not only set up the salon, but also teach the employees how to work at a salon and have the skills “if not on a par, but better than the rest”. For Vineet Bhatnagar, President of Rotary Club of Bombay, the idea of inclusivity got him inclined towards this initiative. “For me inclusivity means looking at the other person like you are looking at yourself,” he says.

I want people to realise that trans people can be skilled and trained. We can also be a part of the mainstream like anyone else. SHYAMALI PUJARI, Beautician

I always wanted a job with dignity. Now, I wish to become manager of the salon some day. ASLAM S, Beautician and makeup artist