COVID-19: Transgender community on verge of starvation in Kashmir

‘Srinagar youths extend helping hand, distributes eatable items among third-genders’

By: Jahangeer Ganaie

Srinagar: A group of five youth from Srinagar have come forward up for the help transgender community in the district, who are finding hard to survive due to pandemic since last year.

Khushi, a transgender from Srinagar, told KNO that from last three years they are finding it very hard to survive and are on verge on starvation but government has completely neglected third-genders in Kashmir.

Khushi said that they haven’t been able to earn a single penny since last three years as they used to work as matchers, dancers and even at some parlours but all sorts of business is shut after abrogation of article 370 .

“Government never bothered to take cognizance of problems faced by around 4,00 transgenders who are putting up in Srinagar and elsewhere in Kashmir,” Khushi said.

Shabnam Subhan, another transgender said that the announcements of government remain confined to paper only and on ground nothing is being done

They requested the government to look into their miseries and take steps for the welfare of this “neglected community.”

Meanwhile, a group of five youth from Srinagar are trying to ease out the sufferings of this community by distributing eatable times among them.

Junaid Mir, who is part of the group, said that they were contacted by some transgenders for help and they have taken up an initiative to help 400 transgender in the Srinagar.

He said that a food kit contacting 25 Kg Rice, 05 Kg oil, tea, sugar and species are being distributed among them and so far among 50 transgenders they have distributed the kit and in next one month, they are going to cover all 400.

He specially thanked to Ummat un Nissa Care Foundation led by Fatima & Kulsum, Mutual Aid India & Dr. Aqsa Khan besides Mitha Sahab & Nazir Sahab (Guru’s of Transgender community of Kashmir) for letting them use their house for food distribution & other support—(KNO)

Related Articles