Obtaining a transgender certificate and ID card is an important step. The transgender persons meet monthly in self-help groups and accumulate savings for their sustainable livelihood measures. Family integration and counseling is part of the program. Public appearances such as the transgender marathon help to break down prejudices.

Transgender people, known as hijras in India, do not fit into any of the common gender concepts of male or female. Their physical sensation often does not correspond to the gender they were assigned at birth.

Discrimination and social exclusion are part of their everyday life. They struggle for acceptance and recognition because they are stigmatised in many public and private spheres of life: at school and university, at work, in medical care and, unfortunately, often within their families.

Extreme social exclusion has a negative impact on their self-esteem and also on their social belonging. According to the 2011 Indian Census, there are about 4.9 million transgender people in the country, of which about 43,769 live in the state of Andhra Pradesh.

At present, Sr. Dr. Amitha Polimetla, a Salvatorian Sister who conducted a study on "Profiles and Problems of Transgender Persons in Andhra Pradesh," is heading the project. She supports the clients in all areas of life and at the same time tries to expand the project. Her work is currently still funded by the religious community. In the future, an additional staff member from the transgender community will be hired to support the programme. The aim is to achieve public recognition and funding within a year.

In three districts of Andhra Pradesh (Vizianagaram, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam), it is planned to collect data, organise awareness programmes and impart knowledge about transgender issues.

As it is too expensive to rent an office, two rooms in the convent are used for the project. This saves rental costs, but some purchases have to be made so that the rooms can be used.

The office requires a number of purchases, such as an air conditioning unit, laptop, printer and projector, which are also used to organise information events.

A motorbike is to be purchased for trips to meetings, home visits and other appointments. Total = Rs 2,86,166.14

Further costs are incurred for awareness-raising programmes, the creation of life documents for those affected and for conducting interviews and evaluations, including for an employee to support the work. Here the costs for one year amount to Rs 3,00,500,00.

The total costs for the project and for one year
are 6,498.00 euros

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