Help Laxmi Narayan Tripathi Serve The Transgender Community Amid COVID-19

The pandemic changed the fabric of our lives last year. Lakhs and lakhs of people suffered, especially those from marginalized communities. Every meal and every day was uncertain. The transgender community was among those who were gravely affected by the pandemic and subsequent lockdowns.

Ever since the beginning of the pandemic, the transgender community has been facing battles of survival on various fronts. With postponements and cancellations of various weddings, ceremonies and a ban on public gatherings have hit this community hard. Today, with the second wave of the virus, their struggles have only increased.

Like a light at the end of a tunnel, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi emerged as an activities and worked towards making lives better for the Transgender community.  This community is not only marginalized and vulnerable but they’re also stigmatized. The only support and shelter they have are one another. Additionally they are concerned about practical issues such as not having a ration card, and other documents. There is panic and fear around not being able to avail government schemes. Most people at least have families to support them and to be with them in these tough times. But for the transgender community, they’re shunned and humiliated on various occasions. India’s transgender community suffers amid the crisis more than anyone else because of lack of social acceptance. Shelter, food, money, access to information, and basic safety measures though may seem essential but are not within the reach of all citizens, especially for the transgender community. However, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi is determined to help the community during these difficult times.Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, the first transgender person to represent Asia Pacific in the UN in 2008 faced several challenges in her journey. Laxmi has done some tremendous work for the LGBTQ community. Born into an orthodox Brahmin family, she has faced a lot of stigma along the way. But, she didn’t let that stop her. She has supported the transgender community through various social campaigns and has become the most influential transgender activist in the country. Through her initiative, Kinnar Services, she aims to provide employment opportunities, education, consultation and help to this vulnerable community.

She works with numerous NGOs, including the Astitva Trust, the Asia Pacific Transgender Network and Maharashtra Trithiya Panthi Sangatana, to promote the equality of transgender individuals. She is the subject of two books, Me Hijra, Me Laxmi (written by R. Raj Rao) and Red Lipstick: The Men in My Life (written by Pooja Pande).

Today, as she has been for the larger part of her life, she’s fighting to provide for the transgender community. She’s striving to provide quality food during the second wave so that this neglected community can survive the crisis. But she needs your help to do this now.

This community is not only marginalized and vulnerable but they’re also stigmatized. The only support and shelter they have are one another. Additionally, they are concerned about practical issues such as not having a ration card, and other documents. There is panic and fear around not being able to avail government schemes. With your support, Laxmi will be able to serve so many people in need.

“The transgender community does not have the social honor of operating within a distant ‘online’ world when their lives are precariously balanced on the thread of social interaction and functions,” says Laxmi Narayan Tripathi.

As we all stay at home, hoping for the crisis to pass, let’s give back to those who are struggling the most during these difficult times. Help the transgender community today.

• Kineer Packaged drinking water plants;
• Kineer Cosmetics and washroom amenities range;
• Kineer Education platform;
• Kineer National Cricket league;
• Kineer manpower Placement and Diversity inclusion platform

Note: All the donations towards this campaign is eligible for Indian Tax Exemption.