Mumbai: Vasai welcomes school for transgenders in Pride month

In a heartwarming initiative a new school for transgender people has opened in Vasai East Touted to be the first such educational institute in Maharashtra its aim is to empower the community and make them selfreliantKinnar Vidyalaya is located off MumbaiAhmedabad Highway in Rajivali Vasai East Mehandi Ali 47 a resident of Lokhandwala told midday that she had been planning to open a school for transgenders for a long time as the community faces discrimination almost everywhere ldquoIt was my dream project I had been planning to open it since the last four years but it was always stonewalled for one reason or another The lockdown only added to the delay but I am happy to get the support of Shri Mahashakti Charitable Trust and many government officials including IPS and IRS officers doctors and advocates who came forward to fulfill my dreamrdquoThe school is surrounded by slums The chairman of the Trust Rekha Tripathi said that apart from providing free education to transgender pupils they will also encourage children from disadvantaged families to seek admissionAccording to Ali the discrimination against them has continued unabated despite the community getting a legal status in India in 2014 Over two dozen transgender pupils have taken admission at the school which was inaugurated on Friday ldquoNo one thinks about the welfare of kinnars they only make fun of us It hurtsrdquo Ali saidldquoThe Supreme Court has recognised transgender people in 2014 but the third gender students often face bullying and discrimination at school resulting in them dropping outrdquo added Ali who said she could not get admission at a school in Andheri when she was six years old due to her orientation ldquoEducation stimulates real growth and we donrsquot want any student to be deprived of thatrdquoParas Thakur 26 is a teacher at the Kinnar Vidhyalaya A meritorious student who secured 74 per cent in SSC and 78 per cent in HSC exams Thakur was compelled to drop out due to the daily harassment she faced in college ldquoI even tried to conceal my identity but people judge on the basis of your body language I could not use the boysrsquo toilet during recessrdquo said the Malad resident She would rush to the restroom during lectures in order to avoid being bullied ldquoIt is not possible for us to conceal our identity and why should we Itrsquos not an offencerdquo Thakur originally wanted to become a flight attendant and pursue modelling ldquoI had to fill a form at the institute to become an airhostess but there was no column for transgenders With almost all avenues shut I slipped into depression Eventually I joined a showroom as a salesman in a shopping mall in Mumbai to earn two square mealsrdquo Thakur added In the interview Thakurrsquos boss asked her to dress as a man if she wanted the job ldquoSince I needed a job I worked for six months I finally resigned as I couldnrsquot do it any longerrdquoParas Thakur 26 is a teacher at the Kinnar Vidhyalaya A meritorious student who secured 74 per cent in SSC and 78 per cent in HSC exams Thakur was compelled to drop out due to the daily harassment she faced in collegeThese days Thakur is earning a livelihood by being part of the badhai toli or dance troupe comprising hijras who perform at eventsThe Kinnar Vidhyalaya is surrounded by slums The chairman of the Trust Rekha Tripathi said that apart from providing free education to transgender pupils they will also encourage children from disadvantaged families to seek admission Vishal Bhagat general secretary of the trust said ldquoAt present the school is open to students upto Standard V but we plan to extend it till matric ulationrdquo Kinnar Vidyalaya will also offer vocational guidance and skill development workshops in handicrafts waste management beauty and interior decoration among other subjects ldquoWe will also hold exhibitions of handmade products to encourage and publicise their craft workrdquo Bhagat saidAccording to Ali there are well educated members in the transgender community who arenrsquot getting jobs in private firms ldquoI would like to encourage the corporate sectors to be open to hiring transgender people to work thererdquo Ali who is wellknown in Mumbai has worked in TV soaps and done cameos in Bollywood movies She has recently signed a movie titled Balak