Our research project aimed to extend beyond the existing data on transgender populations, which is mostly centred on either legal issues, hijra culture, or health related issues such as HIV prevalence and access to SRS. Specifically, there is minimal information on the kinds of socioeconomic and academic needs that transgender populations have. We aim to diminish this gap by developing a needs assessment to ascertain community needs as well as develop more reliable data on the various transgender communities around India.

This assessment was done in conjunction with a preliminary community consultation with transgender organizations. Given that there has been growing mobilization to include transgender persons in business ventures and schemes from beauty to shop-keeping to coding, we have found that the limited information about the capacities, needs, and qualifications of transgender persons makes the kinds of schemes designed potentially obsolete, but also produces systems and interventions that may be neither applicable nor useful for transgender persons.

We hoped that by collecting more data about the state of transgender persons we can begin to make more informed policy decisions and suggestions. Under Sapient project, the Humsafar Trust may not have the mandate to work on the identified needs of TG people, however this study aimed to generate evidence that could be used for advocacy with the government and the institutions to work on those needs.

Objective: Pilot a Transgender Needs assessment focused on educational, healthcare and socioeconomic needs. It is our contention that there is very little baseline data about the needs, backgrounds, or current predicament of transgender populations in India, especially beyond health-related data.

Our study sought to perform the following tasks:

1. Develop a needs assessment/questionnaire that can be piloted in three cities
2. Conduct in-depth, semi structured interviews with community members
3. Create the foundations for advocacy plans, training manuals/IEC, and research publications

Study duration: One year

Current Status: Completed