A first: Three transgenders get vending licence in Chandigarh

CHANDIGARH: In a novel move to ensure livelihood for transgender community in the city, the municipal corporation has issued vending licences to three members of the community under the essential service provider (ESP) category.
Sources said the move was first in the region and the civic body was preparing a detailed case study to submit to the ministry of housing and urban affairs, so that it could be replicated in other parts of the country as well. The three transgender licencees are Shrishti, Mona and Vijayta, who were making a living by selling tea in Industrial Area.
Sources said during the street vendors’ survey, they were left out due to some reasons, so later they filed a representation with the street vendors’ cell, which considered their request.
“Their proposal was scrutinised by the vendors’ cell and tabled in the 26th meeting of the town vending committee and approved by the chairperson. Three of them were called along with the head of the community, Kajal Mukhi, on Tuesday for registration. They were told about various other schemes, self-help groups, self-entrepreneurship programmes, among others. The cell is committed to work towards mainstreaming and sensitisation of the transgenders through their community organisers,” said Vivek Trivedi, social development officer of the MC.