The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has launched a new welfare initiative for the transgender community, aiming to promote self-employment and financial independence.
In the first phase, GHMC extended financial assistance of ₹5.50 lakh to 11 transgender individuals from Quthbullapur Circle, Suraram area. Each beneficiary received a loan of ₹50,000, provided in collaboration with Telangana Grameena Bank, Suraram branch. The loans were sanctioned based on the type of business units chosen by the beneficiaries.
GHMC had earlier considered offering outsourced jobs to transgender individuals.
However, after community members requested self-employment opportunities, GHMC designed this loan scheme.
The main goal is to end forced collections (begging/extortion) often associated with transgender livelihood and instead enable them to live with dignity by running their own businesses.
The 11 beneficiaries have already begun setting up small-scale businesses such as:
Curry points (food stalls)
Jute bag manufacturing
Paper plate making units
Cloth trading
Catering services
These ventures are expected to create sustainable income sources and strengthen their financial independence.
Counseling sessions were conducted to explain the importance of timely loan repayment.
GHMC also announced plans to form exclusive self-help groups (SHGs) for transgender persons, similar to women's SHGs.
Transgender members of these SHGs will later become eligible for additional loans under a structured and transparent process, ensuring more individuals benefit from financial aid.
Officials say the initiative will:
Empower transgenders to achieve economic self-reliance.
Improve their social respect and acceptance.
Reduce discrimination and bring them into the mainstream society.
GHMC has assured that it will continue to support transgender individuals who wish to pursue self-employment and entrepreneurship.