BBMP to set up a shelter home for transgenders

Now, for the first time, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is planning to construct a shelter for the homeless transgenders in the city.

According to the BBMP's estimate, there are about 15,000-20,000 transgenders spread across Bengaluru. Many of them are in fact homeless.

"A shelter home will be built near the BBMP office near Upparpet police station in Gandhi Nagar. The facility would accommodate close to 100 transgenders,” said B N Jagadeesh, deputy commissioner, (welfare), BBMP.

The transgenders will also be given coaching for Indian Administrative Service (IAS) and Karnataka Administrative Service (KAS) entrance examinations.

“We keep seeing transgenders at traffic signals. At the moment there are no shelter homes for transgenders. They do not stay put in footpaths or bus shelters. Even rental homes are denied to them. So, it is important to provide shelters,” the deputy commissioner said.

The BBMP is not only providing the shelter but will empower the transgenders with access to vocational training as well.

“The roof of the proposed shelter house will be utilised to provide training to the transgenders so that they can learn new skills. We will be providing tailoring, candle making, computer, driving and gardening courses,” added Jagadeesh.

Randeep D, additional commissioner (admin), BBMP, said the civic body will be associating with non-governmental organisations to identify the homeless transgenders in Bengaluru.

Several organisations including Solidarity Foundation and activists such as Akkai Padmashali will be part of the identification process.

Meanwhile, the BBMP is already setting up shelter homes for the urban homeless men and women.

With the help of Dream India Network and Impact India Consortium, the BBMP officials are working on a project to provide shelters to the urban homeless in the city. In the survey conducted across West, South and East zones, the BBMP identified 3,991 homeless people.