Dignity, inclusion and livelihood — a social security scheme should focus on these three objectives to bring the transgender community into its fold. But how to implement these objectives on ground? IAS Chanchal Rana has an answer. Let us celebrate the finest work done by civil servants, the foot-soldiers of governance as they script change that touches the lives of countless people across the country. The following case study is framed from a success story recognised at The Indian Express Excellence in Governance Awards. UPSC Essentials of The Indian Express takes you through some inspiring case studies every week from the area of Governance and Civil Services which not only highlight the problem but also focus on award-winning solutions.

Relevance: For Essays, Governance and Ethics section of Mains examination as case studies and example-fodder for answers. Candidates will find it useful for framing replies in interviews and personality tests. This particular case study is relevant to questions related to society and social justice – vulnerable sections. Moreover, to remain motivated, and inspired and create role models, such real-life stories should be read, noted, and applied.

Premananda Sahu, a transgender person from Balangir faces a life of discrimination and social exclusion, where they are denied jobs. “We were forced to beg on trains, dance in marriages and other social functions to earn a livelihood”, says Premananda Sahu, a transgender person from Balangir. Can good governance undo the social discrimination and exclusion of transgender persons — through jobs?

Transgender people have a gender identity or expression that differs from their assigned sex at birth. S Y Quraishi in The Indian Express wrote, “Transgender people have been increasingly recognised as one of the most socio-economically marginalised communities in the country. Since the late 19th century, they have been pushed to the margins of society, and have lost the social-cultural position they once enjoyed. Often shunned as a menace to society, they are now only visible on the streets and localities where they are found begging, never as a part of the mainstream.” Despite enabling laws and initiatives by social organisations, the transgender community is among the most marginalised, with its members facing ostracism and struggling for basic rights and employment opportunities. There are government programmes that dole out benefits to the transgender, which makes them dependent on the government. But people don’t see them as people who can contribute.

With a lack of ambitious plans seeking to mainstream the transgender community through jobs, the transgender community is denied a life of dignity.

In July 2020, the Balangir district administration launched ‘Sweekruti’ to bring the transgender community into the mainstream. The programme helped the members take up various livelihood activities – from managing parking lots to collecting garbage on behalf of the civic body – and brought them into the fold of social security schemes.

According to Naba Krishna Sahoo, the district social welfare officer, Sweekruti was made possible with financial help from the state social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities (SSEPD) department.

“The project has also helped form self-help groups among transgender persons to enable these groups to avail of seed capital. Around 400 to 500 people are likely to have benefitted from this, but it is a continuous process of organising and skilling transgender persons,” said IAS Chanchal Rana.

We return from where we started – Dignity, inclusion and livelihood. The above success story indicates that Sweekruti is a means to fix a bigger, problematic perception by keeping the above three visions in mind. With many like Sahu running parking lots and others driving battery-operated vehicles or working as sanitation workers, going door-to-door collecting segregated household waste, IAS Chanchal Rana said transgender persons are now seen as “part of the workforce”.

Sahu, who earns Rs 7,000-10,000 a month now, said Sweekruti has also ensured an end to transphobia and the mental stress that came from dealing with it. “People coming to park their vehicles also show us respect. My parents are also very happy for me,” Premananda Sahu said.

Jairaj Nag, 50, who works as a helper in a Swachha Safari, a battery-operated vehicle used in door-to-door waste collection, says Sweekruti has given the transgender persons their “own identity”. “There was a time when people used to crack jokes at us for being a transgender. Now, like others, I also earn my livelihood with dignity. And I no longer face any transphobia and I am very happy about that. People talk to us whenever we go to their doorstep to collect waste,” added Nag, who earns around Rs 9,700 a month.

In a conversation with Manas Srivastava of The Indian Express during the Excellence in Governance Award ceremony in 2023, IAS Chanchal Rana said that the challenges in the implementation of this project were firstly making the administration believe in the capabilities of transgender community, identification of the transgenders and skilling them. According to him, improving the livelihood skills transgender community helped not only in providing them with a continuous source of income but also lessen their dependency on the government. By making them a part of the daily workforce, Sweekruti helped them become a part of mainstream society.

For leading by example, Collector-cum-District Magistrate Chanchal Rana was awarded The Indian Express Excellence in Governance Award in the Gender and Inclusion category.

The problems faced by the transgender community in India revolve around two core issues – dignity and inclusion. Discuss.

About The Indian Express Excellence in Governance Awards

The Indian Express Excellence in Governance Awards attempts to identify and recognise the excellence in innovations at the district level by rewarding the spirit of the district. It celebrates best practices across a range of 18 categories: Healthcare to Gender & Inclusion; Skill Development to innovative education, energy to agriculture, Start ups and innovation to E-Governance.

(Week 1) — IAS officer fights against Naxal violence via development

(Week 2) — IAS officer who made education accessible during the time of crisis

(Week 3) — IAS officer who conducted ‘Sabarimala Yatra’ through strategic planning

(Week 4) — IAS officer who used tech to deliver healthcare to tribals

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