Once established, these co-operative societies will be the first in the country which will exclusively work towards the empowerment of the marginalised community.
While presenting the state budget of Kerala earlier this month, Finance Minister Thomas Isaac had declared that through an allocation of ₹10 crore, many initiatives and schemes for the welfare of the transgender community were underway.
Kerala is one of the first states in India to have set the benchmark with various pioneering policies and schemes for the transgender community.
From an exclusive transgender policy to sanctioning pension schemes for senior members, the state has launched many pioneering initiatives in its bid to end the social stigma and denigrating attitude against the community and now, it has proposed to set up co-operative societies for the community.
The announcement was made by Kadakampally Surendran, the state Minister for Tourism and Co-operation, at the on-going Sahakarana Congress (Co-operative) in Kannur on Sunday.
Once established, these co-operative societies will be the first in the country which will exclusively work towards the empowerment of the transgender community.
The minister also mentioned that one of the primary objectives of establishing such societies is to lend financial aid to the marginalised group, which will help them to become self-employed and independent.
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“The societies would be set up in all districts where sufficient numbers of members are available as stipulated as per the Cooperatives Societies Act,” he told Times of India.
Close to 500 members from the community are expected to be part of the programme.
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