In a first, Trans Tea Stall thrown open at Assam's Guwahati Railway station
A first-of-its-kind ‘Trans Tea Stall’ was thrown open, Friday, at the Guwahati Railway station. The tea stall will be wholly managed and run by transgender persons.
A Northeast Frontier Railway official said that the tea stall—christened ‘Trans Tea Stall’—was opened in the Kamrup (M) Deputy Commissioner Office compound in Guwahati in the state government’s bid to empower transgenders and marginalized communities, adding that the outlet will be entirely managed and run by trans people.
The official said that Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) General Manager Anshul Gupta, inaugurated the ‘Trans Tea Stall’—which was done with the active collaboration of the All-Assam Transgender Association—at platform number 1 of Guwahati railway station on Friday in presence of Swati Bidhan Baruah, Associate Vice Chairman of the Transgender Welfare Board of Assam.
Speaking on the occasion, Anshul Gupta noted that the NFR, under their initiative for the empowerment of transgenders, is the first of its kind for the community. He said that it’s the first such initiative in any Central government organization and NFR, adding that more initiatives like this will be undertaken in the future.
The official said the NFR is planning open more trans tea stalls at other railway stations in the region.
Swati Bidhan Baruah, the founder of All-Assam Transgender Association, said in a statement that the tea stall is aimed to empower the trans community of Assam and help them learn entrepreneurial as well as business communication skills. Baruah added that the initiative will also help the trans community to have a better source of income.
A comprehensive scheme for Transgenders “Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise” including a sub-scheme for Comprehensive Rehabilitation for the Welfare of Transgender Persons, has been approved by the Centre.
The ‘Trans Tea Stall’ initiative was hailed by social media users who hailed the initiative to empower the marginalized transgender persons across India.
