Though the Kerala government announced a widely praised transgender policy, its key provisions such as the creation of state and district welfare boards are yet to be implemented.
Kochi gets the country’s first alternative learning centre for school dropouts from the transgender community in what can be best viewed as a stinging reprimand to a society that consistently acts against alternate sexualities and offers lip service to their problems. The school, called Sahaj International, will be inaugurated by activist-actor-artist Kalki Subramaniam.
Founders and transgender activists Vijayaraja Mallika, Maya Menon and Faisal CK insist that theirs is not a school, but a necessity for those who are marginalised, stigmatised and bullied in mainstream schools and forced to drop out. At Sahaj, such students can complete their Class 10 and 12 under the National Open School System and be equipped to access better jobs.
Finding the space was a challenge. Mallika says that she contacted nearly 50 families and 700 persons who advertised rental spaces, and hit a dead end. The nuns of the Congregation of Mother of Carmel learned about the difficulties the transgender community faced and offered them a building at Kakkanad on the outskirts of Kochi. It will have a kitchen and a short stay-home, besides classrooms.
The organisers have shortlisted 10 transgender students for the first batch and sponsors have lined up to contribute the Rs 3,000 charged by the National Open School system for registration and study materials. Nearly 60 teachers and trainers have volunteered to help students in academic subjects, developing vocational skills and confidence building exercises.
Mallika, who was earlier Manu J Krishna, lost her job in a private firm where she worked for eight years after her transgender identity was revealed. For her the school is an experimental attempt to create a model which can be replicated in other towns and cities. “We are not going to rush to the government seeking funding. We want to demonstrate that we have a successful model,” says Mallika.
Though the Kerala government announced a widely praised transgender policy, its key provisions such as the creation of state and district welfare boards are yet to be implemented.
Similarly, the Supreme Court judgment providing OBC reservation for transgender persons is also awaiting implementation. “There is considerable political support for us now but the wheels of administration move too slowly,” says Mallika.
She was also at pains to distinguish the Sahaj project from the Kerala Literacy Mission’s literacy workshop for unschooled transgender persons. “In the future, our paths may merge with such government schemes, but for us, this is a five-to 10-year project where we want to create a scalable and adaptable curriculum to meet the specific employment and inclusive needs of transgenders,” she says.
Ultimately, what is needed is a larger awakening in society, says Mallika. “Even those who are sympathetic to us will not accept a transgender in their families or invite us to their homes. We are also ordinary people struggling to earn a livelihood while having to ward off crushing discrimination.”
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