Guwahati: Business tycoon Anand Mahindra praised Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Indian Railways for their “progressive” initiatives, underlining the significance of their most recent project: India’s first “trans tea stand”. The Guwahati train station stall which will be entirely run and maintained by members of the transgender community and was unveiled by the railway minister on March 13. The North East Frontier Railway (NEFR) came up with and put into action the concept for the “Trans tea stand” in an effort to empower the area.
Mahindra reposted a tweet by Vaishnaw, stating that this “one small initiative is, in my view, as significant and transformational as your many other progressive projects”. The businessman continued, “Indian Railways carries over 8 billion people, and most importantly excludes no one”.
NF Railway General Manager Anshul Gupta inaugurated the “Trans tea stall” at platform number one of Guwahati railway station on March 13, in the presence of Swati Bidhan Baruah, Associate Vice Chairman of the Transgender Welfare Board of Assam. Gupta explained that this was a “first-of-its-kind initiative by any government organisation in the country”.
For the project which is a component of the Center’s overall programme for transgender people called “Support for Marginalized People for Livelihood and Business,” the NEFR worked with the All Assam Transgender Association. A sub-scheme of this plan is dedicated to the welfare and comprehensive rehabilitation of transgender people.
Swati Bidhan Baruah associate vice chairman of the Assam Transgender Welfare Board expressed hope that more trans individuals would receive rehabilitation in the future through various government programmes. The Northeast Frontier Railway also has plans to add additional of these tea shops at other regional train stations.
The “Trans tea stand” represents an important turning point in India’s attempts to empower the transgender community and promote inclusivity. In a nation where members of the transgender community have long endured marginalisation and persecution, this project, though it may appear little has the power to spark change and advancement.