Six months after the city’s first shelter for homeless transgenders was closed, the Greater Chennai Corporation is reopening another one. Officials said they were currently finalising proposals received from organisations to run the shelter for transgenders.
“We have received proposals from 41 organisations, including transgender groups that are willing to run the shelter. We are in the process of finalising the suitable one,” said a senior official from the Department.
The shelter for homeless transgenders was opened last year by the Corporation. It was run by the NGO SIP Memorial Trust. The home reached its full capacity within a week of its opening.
Six months ago, it was shut down after the Corporation declared that it was ‘non performing.’
However, the NGO claims otherwise. “We were not receiving funds from the Corporation on time, and had to spend money for everything from our own pockets. So, we withdrew,” said Noorie, founder of the organisation.
Paucity of funds
She alleged that after they received an initial amount of ₹2,52,500 from the Corporation in July last year, they didn’t receive any further assistance. “We spent all the amount on maintenance. And a lot more on our own. We had to feed residents thrice everyday, pay our staff, work on repairs, but we were running short of money. We even requested the authorities to release payments, but they denied,” she said. After one of their residents committed suicide due to depression and health ailments, the turnout at the shelter also decreased. “We had no money nor residents, so we submitted our plea. We did not embezzle funds, it’s disheartening to hear these allegations,” she said.
Officials from the Corporation maintained that they had flagged several lapses on the part of the organisation. “They are yet to submit the bills and vouchers we asked for,” the official said. However, for many belonging to the community, the closure of the shelter has been hard as many continue to struggle for accommodation. “The tenements allotted to us in Tiruvottiyur are too far and isolate us from the city. We need a permanent solution,” said Selvia, who recently moved into her relative’s house after living on the streets for many months.
