Bhubaneswar: In a first of its kind initiative, the Water Corporation of Odisha (WATCO) has planned to build an exclusive hostel for transgender persons. Coming up at Rokat, on the outskirts of the city, this will be the first such facility for the community in the state.
In order to execute the project, WATCO has recently floated a tender to hire an architectural firm, which will conduct the site inspection as well as give a detailed architectural and feasibility plan to the corporation for the project.
“The plan is in its very initial stage. After the preparation of the architectural plans, we will ascertain the cost of the project and also decide on the timelines of the project execution. For now, the site at Rokat has been finalised,” WATCO general manager, project, Sarada Prasanna Nayak, said.
Nayak said the plan is to provide accommodation to the transgender persons working in the department of housing and urban development of the state. “It will be a quarters-like facility.”
The project will include all transgender-friendly components,” he added.
This planned project has been appreciated by transgender communities here. “It is a very nice and unique plan of the government. The state doesn’t have such a facility in place as of now,” Meera Parida, a transwoman and LGBTQ rights activist, said.
The department of social security and empowerment of persons with disability of the state has also been taking a number of initiatives to increase facilities and living standards of the transgender persons in the state.
“We have been taking up a number of initiatives for transgender persons. The Sweekruti Scheme for them has recently been revamped with more power. We are also planning to come up with a special transgender home,” department director Bratati Harichandan said.
Courtesy : TOI
Note: This news piece was originally published in timesofindia.com and used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights
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