Success Story of Kudumbashree Transgender Neighborhood Groups
Kudumbashree is the women empowerment and poverty eradication program, framed and enforced by the State Poverty Eradication Mission (SPEM) of the Government of Kerala. Established in 1998, this Mission envisages eradication of absolute poverty by combining Local Economic Development, promoting Micro finance, starting livelihood activities in farming and non-farming sectors and implementing various activities in social development. Kudumbashree, a community organization of Self Help Groups (SHG's) of women in Kerala, has been recognized as an effective strategy for the empowerment of women in rural as well as urban areas: bringing women together from all spheres of life to fight for their rights or for empowerment. The overall empowerment of women is closely linked to economic empowerment.
Social inclusion and universal reach have been the important strategies that Kudumbashree Mission has stressed upon since its inception. With a view to reduce marginalization of disadvantaged groups and strengthen initiatives for social inclusion, ‘Disha Campaign’ was launched in January 2017 with the objective of forming special NHGs of groups like the elderly, members of the transgender community and persons with disabilities.
According to Indian Constitution Article 14 all citizens should ensure equal rights, safety and justice. Government should ensure their fundamental rights without discrimination; and that they should receive special benefits in education and employment. Through the formation of special NHGs for Transgender, Kudumbashree help them for their access to all rights, social security measures, benefits, and entitlements thus they can live like any other citizen in the country.
Transgender NHGs
Those who completed 18 years of age will get membership in special NHG for Transgender. According to rules NHG should consist of 10-20 members. In a Community Development Society (CDS) number of Transgender people may be very less and they might have spread across the region. So Kudumbashree District Mission Coordinator (DMC) has the right to give permission to form NHG with less than ten numbers of people. According to their convenience members can select any region to organize NHG. Special NHGs limited to one ward under local self-government or one or more related wards. As of now there are 21 Transgender NHGs in our state which include 274 members. Kudumbashree Mission gives Rs. 10,000 as corpus fund to these Transgender NHGs. A total of 15 Transgender Micro Enterprises had been started across the state. Some of them were appointed in Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) through Kudumbashree Facility Management Centre.
Nicy Chips from Kannur
Transgenders, who were considered outcast by the society till recently, is now coming to the forefront with the confidence in themselves. Kudumbashree Mission have been implementing various programmes for bringing them to the forefront of the society.
Nicy Chips, is the first of its kind Micro Enterprise unit launched by a group of transgenders from Aanakulam of Kannur district of Kerala. Nicy Chips is the venture of Nanma Neighborhood group. They are manufacturing and selling 5 different types of chips from banana and potato are selling in the market. A start up fund of Rs. 1 lakh was received from Kudumbashree Kannur District Mission. Sandhya is the president and Sona is the Secretary of the Micro Enterprise unit. Sneha, Maya, Saumini, Aparna, Jasmine, Reema Satheeshan, Sanana and Laisa are the other members of the unit. An average of 2,000 kg of Chips are sold in a month, even though the business is mainly done focusing on trade fairs inside and outside Kerala. Nicy Chips has an average income of Rs 1 lakh every month.
In the initial stage, the team started selling through home shops. Because of the quality of their products are of high demand in the market. Even a few supermarkets have shown interest to sell Nicy Chips in their shops. Nicy Chips is also undertaking bulk orders from nearest shops. They are focusing their business mainly on trade fairs inside and outside Kerala. The response they received while taking part in the Trade fairs at Delhi, Maharashtra and Rajasthan had added them more confidence.
Lakshya Juice Corner
It was during the age of 22 that Amrutha Sumith revealed her gender identity towards the society. Now, she is the owner of Lakshya Fruits and Juice Corner, the Kudumbashree Micro enterprise unit situated at the Ernakulam Kakkanad Collectorate premises.
Amrutha is the member and President of the Lakshya Special NHG formed in 2016 under Kakkanad North CDS joining 12 transgenders. The members of the group include Amrutha, Saya, Faizal Faizu, Mereena and Shalu. Amrutha and Mereena are the President and Secretary of the group. Kudumbashree Ernakulam District Mission started this micro enterprise associating with the Ernakulam District Administration. Kudumbashree Mission who has fully sponsored this juice stall has already given Rs 80,000 as financial assistance. Amrutha is making a monthly income of Rs 12,000 from this micro enterprise unit.
Amrutha, hailing from Pullarimangalam of Kothamangalam is now undergoing hormone treatment prior to the gender changing surgery. She is also selling lunch and different types of pickles under the brand name ‘ Amrutha’. They had also launched a dance troupe of their own named ‘Shree Nataraja Kalasamithi’. They are performing cinematic dance, epic dance dramas and bale. They had also launched a tailoring shop along with. Mareena is in charge of this tailoring unit.
Kudumbashree had brought in notable interventions in the lives of transgender community through the launch of transgender NHGs. Through such interventions, Kudumbashree Mission is bringing the transgender community from the state of outcast to the accepted and help them build a better life of their own where they can live with much pride and confidence.
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