As India puts up a brave  fight against covid 19, many communities are struggling to make a living amidst economic  uncertainties. There are over 2000 transgenders in Bangalore who are struggling to meet their ends due to lockdown . While Volunteers from Agarwal Samaj , Karnataka  stepped forward to providing them relief material but the transgender community  demands that the government provide them a relief package .

The transgender community in Bangalore which has suffered a lot due to no income during the lockdown , got a helping hand from Agarwal Samaj , a voluntary organization at the forefront of Covid relief. Over 150 members of the community stepped out of their homes to collect ration kits distributed by Volunteers of Agarwal Samaj .

The lockdown has confined them indoors and affected their living as many  depend directly on traffic signal stops as they seek alms from people and manage to make a good collection at the end of the day. But these transgenders are unable in making both ends meet

Sunjay Garg , President Agrawal Samaj said , “ Our Volunteers from Agarwal samaj stepped in to provide ration kits to the community  as they have no other source of income and we thought that it is our duty to support every home which is without food and income”.

The transgender community has a big challenge as it is deprived of several social welfare schemes of the state government.  Sumitra , a transgender herself has been fighting for the rights of the community and ensured that evey member of her community gets some financial and goods support . “ WE have been struggling to get some support from the government , but many of our community do not even have proper documents like ration card etc and hence cant get any help from government”

Covid has come as a big blow to the  transgender community as well. Several senior citizens have no one to look after them and more than 50  in the community have already tested positive . Many have been depending on donations and volunteer support for medical help . Vijay Saraf , General Secretary of the Agrawal Samaj , offered free medical kits to the over 150 transgender community members. “ WE want tat every one should stay safe , we designed a complete self care kit for the transgender community and ensured that each one keeps it with them, in case they have a need for it” said Vijay Saraf.

The karnataka government announced an special package for the different section of economic people but the transgender communities have not been included as beneficiaries. A reason why the ccommunity seeks government’s intervention and a relief package to face  the pandemic.

Karnataka is under lock down till June 14^th  and govt is considering extension of lockdown. The transgenders hopeful that besides the volunteers the govt wll step forward to help them.