GUWAHATI: On Monday 18 April, the members of the transgender community in Assam inaugurated the first of its kind trans-run tea stall at the DC (Deputy Commissioner) Office in Kamrup district.
This initiative under the AATA (All Assam Transgender Association) offers hope of livelihood with dignity to the transgender community across the state of Assam.
AATA which is a forum of Assam transgender communities named this unique tea stall as 'Trans Tea Stall.'
The founder of the Association Swati Bidhan Baruah said that this initiative is a small start for the empowerment of the trans community and through this livelihood support will be provided to the transgender who faces harassment and discrimination on trying to earn money for livelihood.
Baruah who is a lawyer by profession informed that the tea stall will be run by 2 transgender members of the association by taking support from two helpers.
The stall will have tea, and snacks along with other packaged food items and later more items will be added based on the response from the customers.
Baruah further states that the association hopes for a good response as a large section of people are often witnessed at the office of the Deputy Commissioner in Kamrup.
The association had written to all DCs seeking support for this initiative as there is no scheme for livelihood support to the transgender community and responding to this Kamrup DC Kailash Karthik N agreed to provide space in his office premises said Baruah.
They are also planning to open similar tea stalls in other regions of Assam such as Barpeta, Kamrup Metro, Darrang and Nalbari and in the next phase the community members will approach district courts for opening tea stalls on their premises as informed by Baruah.
According to Baruah, this step will not only help to earn the livelihood of the transgender but will also send a strong message to society.
Baruah added that the transgender are often laughed at in buses, trains and other public places while begging but nobody thinks of giving an opportunity to them so that they can earn with respect.
As per a recent survey over 26,000 transgender lives in Assam and due to a lack of scheme for economic empowerment they are facing major difficulties.
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