Article written by
Mrs. Vijaya Lakshmi Ravi (Asst. Professor)
&
Mrs. Michelle J Francis (Sr. Asst. Professor) & Training Coordinator
Of
National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Gachibowli Hyderabad
The Department for Empowerment of PwDs, Senior Citizens & Transgender persons
Government of Telangana has initiated a skill based Training program in the area of Canteen
Chef & Hospitality Managemnet. This is implemented based on the request made by the District
Collector of Nalgonda, Telangana to provide better livelihood opportunities to enhance their
income. The Government has initiated to give the transgender’s an opportunities by providing
them canteen space for food stalls at Toll gate points on National Highway-65 for their
livelihood and for the PwD’s Tea Poni spaces at railway stations and other areas such as at the
collectorate complex; Temple Areas and highways.
National Institute of Tourism and Hospitality Management, Gachibowli Hyderabad (NITHM),
conducted the pilot batch with 26 participants (12 Transgenders and 14 PwD’s). The batch
commenced on 10th Jun, and 24th Jun is the closing with the certification ceremony. The 26
candidates’ have participated in the 15 days residential training program. The daily time table
was strictly followed, where the learning was both practical kitchen canteen menus such as
Types of Egg preparations, Salads, Sandwiches, Chutneys, Meals & Thali’s, Pakoda’s, Rices,
Tiffins, Gravy’s, Sweets, Tea, Coffee, Lasi and Biryani’s. Further they had theory class on topics
such as Grooming & Hygiene, Professional Behavior, Self Branding & Marketing, Canteen
Menu Planning, Costing & Tender Management, Business Plan and Managing Finance, Ethics
and Self Empowerment. The Chef’s MK Ganesh Principal I/c, Chef A. Mahesh and Chef Tulja
Ram worked together tirelessly from start to finish of the batch. For the afternoon class all
faculty of NITHM joined to take classes based on their subjects. Faculties: Mrs. RV
Vijayalaxmi; Mrs. Sirisha Murthy; Dr.A KiranMayi; Mrs. Aarti Patil; Dr.Mahender Reddy and
Dr.Maheshwara Reddy along with Mrs. Michelle J Francis the Training Coordinator made
sure all the participants were understanding and were comfortably learning each day. The closing
was held on 24th Jun’24 at 2:00 pm with the valedictory The Guest of Honor were Mr.
Venugopal Rao Director of Welfare Nalgonda Dist. Mr. Nagi Reddy and Sathish program
coordinators at the District Welfare Office at Nalgonda. It was a touching moment when the
participants shared their 15days journey with NITHM, tears fell from many eyes as statements
made by them were* These 15 days were the best days of their life. * One transgender exclaimed
that in these 15 days they did not feel at all they were transgender’s. They were treated so well
by all the staff and students at NITHM. They felt respected and mentioned that if only society
can follow the same; they would be able to happily survive.
This is a great initiative by the Government for their empowerment. But a lot more needs to be
done to make the society accept them as Humans with a difference and their right to lead a
normal life. When the training proposal was announced in the campus, so many people were
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filled with trepidation of how can it be, how do we do it, as it was challenging and never done
before. Things we quite different when the participants arrived, as the classes commenced by the
end of day 1, they won the hearts of everyone on campus by their behavior and good etiquette.
It is exactly this fear which has to go from people’s minds for the transgender acceptances – so
they could have normalcy in their day to day life as per societal norms. The ‘different’ are by and
large accepted with lot of terms and conditions. It’s the interface between the Transgender’s and
the society which needs to be addressed. In one of the session on Transgender empowerment, the
participants highlighted their plight and shared their woes which do not stop anywhere. Their
challenges stem from their identity – social acceptance, legal recognition, healthcare disparities,
mental health concerns, safety issues, and the need for inclusive policies and support systems.
Education and advocacy are essential in fostering understanding and creating a more inclusive
society for transgender people.
Discrimination: The discrimination that they face is in various forms and at different levels
which they shared and its heart wrenching to listen
Employment: Transgender individuals often face discrimination in the workplace. They
are not given jobs anywhere. Excluded from all this due to societal prejudices and fears,
they resort to begging and prostitution.
Education: some of the participants are well educated but the students frequently
experience bullying, harassment, and exclusion in educational settings. This hostile
environment can hinder their academic performance and overall well-being. One of the
participants quit studying due to the same
Housing and Homelessness: Discrimination contributes to higher rates of homelessness
among transgender individuals. Many face eviction, denial of housing or unsafe living
conditions due to their gender identity. They ultimately end up taking shelter under the
trees or busstand. Another participant mentioned thethat after they go back maybe they
have to stay under the trees as the owners are asking them to vacate once they reach back
to Nalgonda. Even if they get a house they have to also pay double the house rent.Even if
they try to get their house constructed, officials stop the constructing based on complains
by the neighbor. Society issues due non acceptance.
Legal Protections: They have approached the police many times when they faced a
situation, and they were always given a deaf ear.
Lack of Understanding: A significant and major challenge for transgender individuals
is the pervasive lack of understanding and acceptance in society:
Social Stigma: Negative stereotypes and misinformation about transgender identities
contribute to social stigma, leading to isolation, rejection, and mental health challenges.
In some areas they are worshipped, in some areas its outright resistance. They have
strong desire to lead a normal life like any of us , but their identity is not allowing them to
do it no matter what.There is a movie in Kannada on Transgenders –
NaanuAvanalla…Avalu (I Am Not He…She)which shows how the boy runs away from
home as his behavior is not accepted by his own family
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Impact on Daily Lives: These challenges have profound effects on the daily lives of
transgender individuals:
Mental Health: Transgender people are disproportionately affected by mental health
issues such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality. These conditions are often exacerbated
by experiences of discrimination and social exclusion.
Safety Concerns: Fear of violence and harassment is a constant concern for many
transgender individuals, particularly transgender women of color who face heightened
risks of hate crimes. In some areas they are killed too.
They cannot use the public toilets. They use it only at the place they live and again after
they come back which leads to lot of health issues.
Overall, addressing these challenges requires societal efforts to combat discrimination, promote
education and understanding, and enact policies that protect transgender rights and ensure
inclusivity in all aspects of life. By raising awareness and advocating for change, we can create a
more supportive environment where transgender individuals can live authentically and thrive.
Tran’s genders are human beings, who have a right to live a safe and happy life. So with society
awareness and acceptance, we can help them live a safe, healthier and happylife.
NITHM’s initiative to conduct this pilot batch from 10th
- 24thJun 2024, is credited to the
Director of Tourism; Director I/c of NITHM – Smt. N Nikhila, IAS; who has been supporting
this training program. .
Michelle J Francis
Sr. Asst. Professor (Training & Consultancy)
& Placement Officer
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