By Fr George Kannanthanam cmf –
Friday the 10th of June 2021. Sixty kilometres up and down drive from Bangalore to the nearby town of Dabbaspet on the Tumkur Road. Fourteen ‘hamams’ – another word for transgender homes, 80 transgenders, 40 dry ration kits, five volunteers, one pick up van with the kits and two cars. It was indeed a great experience.
Loading the pick-up van from Hope Society office at Malleswaram 18th Cross, we left around 4 pm. Fr Mario and I from the Hope Society were joined by Vinod Kumar the founder of Good Quest Foundation along with Santosh, their Director and a volunteer, Rebecca. The destination was the Tumkur Road from where we were getting calls regularly since about two weeks from several ‘Hamams’. They needed help as they were struggling to survive as the roads stood empty of traffic with COVID-19 lockdown.
We were joined by Rakshitha at the first stop, near Yeswanthpur. She was a transgender herself for many years. She knew every one of her friends by name in every ‘hamam’. However, Rakshitha took a turn in her life to live with her parents and abandon the usual works done by a transgender, mostly begging or sex work. She is a proud company employee now. But also a volunteer with Good Quest Foundation to show to her old friends that an alternative life is possible.
The first place was the place with the biggest number of transgenders, about 30 of them. But they were gathered together from about five ‘hamams’ close by. We shared with them 15 packets; each packet was about 12 kilograms of dry ration, containing 18 items. With five kilos of rice, it is a survival kit for a group of two persons each for about two weeks. It costs Rs 700. It was a gift from the Claretian Fathers through the Hope Society. Additionally, the Good Quest foundation had mobilised toiletries from Himalaya company.
One of them, Sandhyama, made a sharing, which we recorded. She explained how life has been difficult since a year. Sandhyama expressed their gratitude to us. “You are one of the rare people who thought of us. Otherwise nobody bothers about us,” as she spoke for everyone.
We moved on to the next nine stations in the next five hours, covering the ones on our side of the road. The cheer in their face was missing. The make-up was not there. Their very appearance spoke volumes of their struggles. They looked much more happy and healthy a few months ago for a Christmas program that we had organised for them. COVID-19 has taken heavy toll in their lives.
Some of them complained, “Why you took so many days to come?” I felt guilty. We were waiting for donor approvals and funds. Finally, when none of the funds promised came, I decided that we could not wait when people are waiting for food. We mobilised whatever was available with the society and got the kits ready. Agencies can afford to wait for their formalities. Hunger cannot.
Two of the nine places we visited offered us coffee and snacks. Sitting around them and discussing how of other alternatives for this group of people. We asked them how much they earn. Some of them said Rs 10,000-15,000 per month. Vinod proposed that they start with some business for which we could help. However, they said, “Who is going buy anything from us. The way people look and talk about us when we move around, it is very hurting. Will they come to our shops?” It was a question to the society at large. The society wants them to change, but is the society willing to change?
They were more comfortable with what they could do being in their houses. They don’t need to face the brunt the public. Any packing to be done or any production at home was ok for them. What is required is the possibility to sell their products. We promised to come back for further discussion. They are about 12,000 transgender persons in Bengaluru. There are Hamams in every exit roads from Bengaluru city. We will cover all of them in the coming days. Caritas and FVTRS has promised in the coming days.
I knew every one of these places as we were with these hamams for our Christmas carol programs few months ago. Even with the masks, they could recognise us. I was happy to hear, “Thank you Father” from many places. Vinod always introduced me as the Father who provided the Kits. I too thought it was good for them to know that the Church was doing it.
I have been to numerous places in the last one year for providing Survival Kits to various groups in the peripheries. It took me to places in Bangalore I have never seen. It brought me to unimaginable living situations right in the heart of the otherwise posh city of Bengaluru. It is just unacceptable, the way the city treats its marginalised groups like migrants, refugees, transgenders and those affected by leprosy, HIV and disabilities.
Our concept of growth and development has a long way to travel. We need more committed individuals, civil groups and of course the Church and the government, to create a better future for the peripheries.
We reached out to more than 30,000 families with survival kits during COVID-19 times under the banner of CoronaCare Bengaluru, which consists of various Christian NGOs in Bengaluru, namely, Hope, BREADS, ECHO, AIFO, Good Quest Foundation and Orione Seva. We need more and more institutions and personnel with their enormous resources to just move in and be with these groups in times like this. It is not just providing the food. Our very presence matters.
Returning to the city at around 10 pm, we had a Swiggy dinner on the road. By then the transgender ‘hamams’ would have cooked the groceries given them as well. We decided that we have to get back to them soon to fulfil our promises.
Jesus would have been very happy to join this trip.
Or was HE there anyway!