A project of the Mumbai diocese of the Marthoma Church which works among
the transgender community in Mumbai will extend its operations to
Kerala state.
The decision was taken after they found that a large
number of transgenders in Mumbai are originally from Kerala.
Father
Abin Srampickal Abraham of the Navodaya movement said that they will
offer options to integrate the community with the mainstream.
The church
project, according to coordinators, does not encourage sexual
reassignment surgery but will provide financial assistance to those who
are in need of the same.
"We are not completely encouraging SRS
as such, however, in cases it is essential we will provide financial
assistance," said Fr Abin.
Navodaya Movement which works to
address the concerns and aspirations of transgenders and those from the
intersex community will start functioning in the state by the end of
February.
"We will be helping them by offering various facilities
to train them in vocational skills. Apart from working towards
betterment of the community by introducing more facilities for educating
and training them, we will also directly involve with them to improve
their living standards," said Fr Abin.
While maintaining that the
project is not an evangelist program, the father said that they will
cater to the spiritual needs of the community as per the demands from
its members.
"We are not at all a missionary society, however we
will cater to the spiritual requirements as per the request of the
community members," said Fr Abin adding that they are currently working
only among transgenders and not within communities like lesbian and gay.
Transgender
activists meanwhile welcomed the entry of the organization. "I
personally know many who are awaiting SRS and who are not able to go
through with it because of financial constraints. If they can get any
kind of help that is most welcome," said Maya, a transwoman who works as
a yoga trainer in Kochi.