Transwomen run milk parlour to connect with society
The Poomaalai complex at Charring Cross bus stop, an exclusive zone for women entrepreneurs, planned and established by Supriya Sahu, popular collector of Nilgiris during 2000-2002, now saw its fulfillment with J. Innocent Divya, the present dynamic collector in the hills, paving the road for transwomen to step into an enterprising new venture by setting up an Aavin milk parlour at the complex. It is exclusively run by trans-women, the first of its kind in the state which came into being here a week ago.
For the group of transwomen, including Sowmiya Shasu, Sanaa
Shasu, Vishnupriya, Ria, all hailing from Thanjavur and Ratchana, hailing from Mandya near Mysuru, who settled down here a decade ago, their grit was to venture into entrepreneurship to earn a good livelihood. This group formed the ‘Nilgiri Tirunangaigal Self-Help Group (NTSHG)’. Sowmiya, the head of the NTSHG, said that Devakumari, the district social welfare officer, helped them to set up a small shop in the town. “But, it failed to take off due to lack of space and facility. Then she approached Babu, Project Director of Mahalir Thittam in Nilgiris to allot space for them at Poomaalai complex.
“When he responded positively, it was Innocent Divya, Collector
of Nilgiris, who helped us get an Aavin milk parlour with Aavin administration
lending a hand. The district co-op
helping Nilgiris bank
— ASIAN AGE chipped in with `3 lakh loan,” she explained.
Stating that this venture would help them join the mainstream and connect with society to get social acceptance, Sowmiya said that this project has given them the much-needed confidence to make a livelihood for transgenders across the country.
“We hope that the success of this venture would motivate other transgenders to try their best in entrepreneurship to prove their skills to become a contributing member of society, besides, utilizing the opportunity to scale new heights for economic empowerment of the transgenders,” Sowmiya added.