Assam: Indian Railways Opens First-Of-Its-Kind 'Trans Tea Stall' Run By Transgenders At Guwahati Station

The initiative is a first of its kind by the Indian Railways and the stall was set up in collaboration with the All Assam Transgender Association.

The tea stall will be fully managed by the transgender community ( Image Source :Pallav Bora )

A first-of-its-kind "Trans Tea Stall" run by transgenders was opened on Friday at Assam's Guwahati Railway station. The tea stall will be fully managed by the transgender community. The initiative is a first of its kind by the Indian Railways and the stall was set up in collaboration with the All Assam Transgender Association.

The "Trans Tea Stall" was inaugurated at platform number one of Guwahati Railway station by general manager of NF Railways Anshul Gupta in presence of Swati Bidhan Baruah, associate vice chairman of the Transgender Welfare Board of Assam.

"The NF Railways has taken the initiative for empowerment of the transgenders. This initiative is the first of its kind in the NF Railway as well as in Indian Railways. This is the first such initiative in any Central government organisation and NF Railways will take more such initiatives in future," Gupta said at the inauguration ceremony.

The tea stall will be fully managed by the transgender community (Pallav Bora)

Swati Bidhan Baruah said it would a learning curve for the transgender community and she would like its members to step into the entrepreneurial field.

"We have been working for the upliftment of the community for the last 25 years. We now want the community to learn and step into the entrepreneurial field," Baruah told ABP Live.

Baruah said the "Trans Tea Stall" would help the community to be treated as part and parcel of the society.

"After receiving support from the authorities of NF Railways, we opened the tea stall, which will create an opportunity to teach entrepreneurship and empower the community so that there is not discrimination towards them," Baruah further said.

The stall was inaugurated at platform number one of Guwahati Railway station by general manager of NF Railways Anshul Gupta

Speaking to ABP Live, Rani, who is trained in entrepreneurship skills said, "I am feeling very happy today for myself and our community. Through this, we will get a chance to serve the people."                                                                     

The Centre has approved a scheme for transgenders named "Support for Marginalised Individuals for Livelihood and Enterprise" which includes a sub-scheme for comprehensive rehabilitation for welfare of transgender persons.

NF Railways plans to open more such tea stalls run by transgenders at other stations in the region soon.