Kolkata: Beauty treatment course promises to open doors to better jobs for these transwomen

KOLKATA: Subir Sen has a way with make-up. Though not formally trained in beauty care, Sen has picked up a lot over the years and has even done make-up for one of the plays put up by a theatre group he is part of. The 25-year-old transgender, a resident of Howrah’s Belgachhia, is currently a part of a beautician training course planned for transgenders.
A first of its kind in the city, the initiative is a small step towards a bigger reform to see trans-individuals benefiting in the long run. Organised by Civilian Welfare Foundation (CWF), Amitie Trust and Round Table India (RTI CART 12), a community-based organisation of transgenders, the project will see six transwomen train under beauty expert Aparna Das.

“I have always been passionate about creative work and joined a theatre group where I watched make-up being put on performers. I, too, started doing make-up. But I slowly found out that there was a lot of competition,” said Sen, who wants to open his own make-up studio some day. He added that this training opportunity will give him an edge over the others.
This month-long course across eight classes on the weekends will take place at the Ananya Beauty Salon at Nagerbazar. The individuals will be trained on basic techniques of beauty treatment, like threading, waxing, manicure, pedicure, hair cut and facial.
Das, a gender rights activist, believes that the course will give a boost to transwomen. “This is a unique opportunity. These transwomen have every right to earn a living in the society and this course is one such platform to show them the way. I am glad to be able to help them,” Das added.
Much like Sen, Nikita Sardar, too, has always been interested in a beautician’s course. “I used to work as a helper in a beauty parlour, but I was not learning much since I was not getting enough opportunity. I could not get work elsewhere because I am a transwoman without any professional training. After this course, I plan to get work in reputable salons,” said the 24-year-old Garia Nabagram resident.
Indrani Kar, member of CWF, said, “This is a dream project for us and we want to use it to resist the patriarchal perception of beauty.”