By Matters India Reporter
Hyderabad, July 22, 2020: A Hyderabad-based Montfort center for human rights has launched a livelihood program for those who have lost their livelihoods because of Covid-19.
The first group to benefit from Montfort Social Institute (MSI) project, launched on July 21, is transgenders who lost their traditional occupations such as begging and sex work after India imposed the lockdown on March 25.
The institute also works for sustainable development and good governance education.
Five members of the community have started making and marketing ginger-garlic paste, an essential kitchen ingredient, said MSI director Montfort Brother Varghese Theckanath.
The effort is well received by households that find the hygienically prepared product better than what they get from markets, Brother Theckanath told Matters India.
“Perhaps MSI is one of the few organizations related to the Catholic Church working with Transgenders in India. The National Council of Churches in India has been more forthcoming with their work,” Brother Theckanath said.
The 11-year-old institute started working with Transgenders in October 2019 under the banner of Montfort Rainbows. “We have provided dry rations to more than 700 members from the community over the last three and a half months. We are in the process of providing a minimum income to the community as part of a research project in partnership with the University of Barth, United Kingdom.
Brother Theckanath says through the livelihood initiative, the institute hopes to reach out also to domestic workers and transgenders in ten towns of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
In mid-July, the institute helped slum women such as Punyavathi and Mamatha of Indiranagar and Dairy Farm, OU Camp in Hyderabad.
The two widows are the sole breadwinners, who find their lives turn harsher after the lockdown.
Fearing transmission of the coronavirus, their employers have asked them to not come for work.
Brother Theckanath says their families had no income for the past three months. Most families now do not employ domestic workers.
“MSI has stepped to help their families and provide a means of livelihood. We were able to provide the sewing machines so that they can build a career for themselves. This gift of hope has definitely brought them a lot of hope to fight through these difficult times,” he added.