Prejudice against transgenders pan-India data collection initiatives have pushed the community into near-complete digital and physical obscurity. This invisibility furthers transgenders into the margins of society, often forced into a life of abject poverty and social misery. Our team has witnessed this ostracization from close proximity. Hence, we intend to fight this erasure of the trans community through intersectional approaches to surveying and documentation.
The beneficiaries of this data collection drive are not transgenders alone. The information collected can be used by governmental and non-governmental organizations to propose targeted interventions. It is imperative that organizations make decisions that are synchronous with the societal condition in order to ensure optimum utilization of resources. We can attest that the gap in data between stakeholders and relief organizations often lead to catastrophic consequences; I have witnessed massive sections of my community deprived of government relief schemes due to a lack of government documentation. Similarly, members of the transgender community are unable to avail the benefits of non-governmental relief as the needs of the community do not align with the provisions being made. Organizations like the Community Empowerment Trust are often stumped by the question of “where” interventions should be made - understanding the ubiquity and concentrations of the trans population will help NGOs make more informed decisions about the site of potential campaigns.
Through our efforts we intend to use data and documents as the vehicles of transformation. By democratizing the process of data collection we will produce outcomes informed by the identities and lived experiences of individuals executing and benefiting from the drive. We will enable a diverse team of professionals from all disciplines and gender identities to further the LGBTQI+ discourse within Indian and international academic circles.
However, we cannot do this alone. To join us as volunteers, or to donate to our cause click here.
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