Thiruvananthapuram: In a first in the country, state government led by social justice department plans to set up short stay homes for transgender community in four districts of the state. Apart from education for the transgender community under state literacy mission and housing scheme under LIFE mission, the department also plans to offer skill development training . An app for transgender community and an event management company is also on the anvil.“The short stay home will be set up in four districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulum, Kozhikode and Palakkad. The first short stay home will be set up at Kamaleshwaram in Thiruvananthapuram. The land has been identified and will be a care home for about 20 transgender persons and will be run by the state with the support of non-governmental organizations (NGOs),” social justice department (SJD) director Nooh P B said. The homes are expected to provide the required medical assistance and care for the transgender community after gender affirmation surgery as they go through various physical and mental problems during the transition phase. Later, such care homes will be extended to all districts of the state.As part of the housing scheme, state has already enlisted 466 transgender persons under the livelihood inclusion and financial empowerment (LIFE) mission project that envisages a comprehensive scheme for all the landless and homeless in the state and it is already approved by finance minister Thomas Isaac, said an SJD official.“As part of their empowerment, about 15 transgender persons will be offered training by event managers. They will get the support to set up an event management company to organize weddings and other functions,” the official said. “State also plans to launch an app for transgender community before August 15 which will offer all information, notifications and communication will be available for the community members,” he said. The skill training, placement and provision of care home will form part of Mazhavillu project for transgender community, an umbrella scheme which began with skill training programmes. Kerala unveiled the transgender policy in November 2015 and set up a transgender cell in February this year appointing members from transgender community with a helpline 1-800 425 2147.About 25 transgender members have been offered training in car driving through tie-up with Uber for their placements, the official said.

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