In the transgender community, camaraderie tides over cash crunch
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In the transgender community, camaraderie tides over cash crunch

In times such as these, when money is hard to come by, this community manages to survive by sharing their income — and bank accounts.

In the transgender community, camaraderie tides over cash crunch

These are difficult times. Demonetisation has left many without a source of income — and the NCR eunuch community is struggling even harder to survive. City Spidey spoke to a few transgenders in Laxmi Nagar, East Delhi, to know how life has changed for them.

Badhai, or money that families offer on auspicious occasions such as the birth of a child or a wedding, is an important, and sometimes the only, source of income for them. But in cashless times, such money is hard to come by.

Says Kanta, “For the past 25 days, I have not had any badhai income.”

The head of the group, or the guru, allots a particular area to every group — and they are forbidden to operate outside it. However, times are such that these boundaries have been blurred and most of them are sharing their daily earnings to be able to survive.

The camaraderie doesn't end there. “Though most of us don't have bank accounts, those who do are sharing their money with us," says Neeta Bodo.

Most of them are wary of going to banks or ATMs because people often react negatively. Juli Mehak explains, “I didn't go to the bank because I was sure I would be harassed. I know how people react to us — how they look at us. It makes the whole situation even more difficult."



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