Prolonged exclusion of transgenders from the public space has led to the end of dependency of transgenders with the mainstream. They have started to take resolves to tread this journey of life all by themselves. They have started to explore about different facets of life.

In Udapi district, a group of transgenders who are natives of that areas have set up a canteen for night-time food shelters.

Three of them, Poorvi, Vaishnavi and Chandana who earlier used to seek alms on the street have now decided to lead a life of self-reliance with a canteen near the Udupi Bus Stand.

They run their canteen from 1am to 7am when travellers are generally found wandering the city in search of food.

The canteen has turned out to be a boon not only for these night travellers but also for the workers of the night shift. The canteen provides delicious snacks and tea to the customers.

The trio said that they are getting an encouraging response and respect from the public. They are themselves enjoying the newly found dignified life in the heart of the city.

Recently, Udupi district was under intensified patrolling by the police staff to detect the illicit activities of transgenders including sex work. At such a critical juncture when everybody is raising eyebrows on the transgender community, they have come up with a new project to remove the negative label from the minds of public.

The first MBA degree holding transgender in the state Sameeksha Kunder has also invested in the canteen and stood by her friends.

Presently, the three of them are running the food services from their house as the acceptance from the public is very much essential for running any sort of business. However, they have started to work and with degree of inner energy, they are set to bring out about changes not only in their individual lives but also of the larger public.

Taylor Swift, the famous musical artist and singer from US, recently casted a transgender artist in one of her song videos (Lavender Haze). The transgender artist on receiving the opportunity said,

'The more we are seen, the more we are seen as people.'

Thus, examples from here and there are now indicating the paradigm shift in the values of society. Let's break the taboos prevalent in the society in regard to the transgender people. Let's break the myopic vision of a normal human being so that we can think diverse.

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References:

• udayavani.com
• latestly.com