JU Sherpur stood beside transgender people for their livelihood development

From the observation of the peoples’ neglecting attitude towards Transgender people and their miserable and helpless conditions JU decided to stand beside them for their livelihood development.

Then JU Sherpur committee members took the issue of transgender as civic and humanitarian concerns and tried to develop relation with them. Then Janoudyog leaders discussed the issue of transgender communities with the local Parliamentarian, Deputy Commissioner, Police Super, Social Welfare Officer, Zilla Parishad Chairman, Mayor of Municipality, Government Youth Development Department, Chamber leaders including different organizations and leaders. Afterwards, views exchange meeting was organized with district administration titled `livelihood development of transgender community in Sherpur’. The meeting realized, ‘If the opportunity is created for transgender community to enjoy their basic rights, they too can return to mainstream of the society. However, it needs to increase their social status as well as create separate housing and employment for them’. As a result of strong advocacy of JU Sherpur the government District Administration came forward to provide support to build housing and livelihood development.

Then the District Administration took a special Gucchagram Residential Project for Transgender community that is built on 2 acres of public land at Andharia Sutiparh area of Kabirpur mouza of Kamaria union under Sherpur sader upazilla. The Gucchagram housing project, built at a cost of Tk. 69.4 lac with special allocation from Prime Minister’s Office, has 40 houses in four rows. For income generating activities, there is a pond on around 40 decimal of land, open space for vegetables and crops cultivation and multipurpose room for self-development training. Each house built in Gucchagram has a kitchen and sanitary latrine. Each house is provided with electricity connection. Along with Gucchagram, there is a large government pond of 6 acres of land. That pond has also been excavated and given to them for fish farming.

On June 7, 2021, Ms. Anar Koli Mahbub, deputy commissioner of Sherpur, as chief guest handed over houses and land of Gucchagram residential project to 40 transgender people. During this period, transgender people are provided with household furniture, cooking utensils, food items and other necessary materials. Beside, vegetable seeds are provided for gardening, fish are released in the pond and 10 persons are given credit of Tk. 15000 from national women organization for income generating activities.

Now, the people’s attitude towards Transgender community is improving day by day. They are also inspired to get better life and expressed their gratitude to JU and Government Administration. On the national day, they are paying homage to the martyr memorial on behalf of Transgender community like other people of the society. Although they are in trouble during corona period, even then they provided volunteering services for protecting Covid-19 which is a sign of their humanitarian development.