Vadodara: Almost 100 years ago, the royal family to help them settle in the state of Baroda and even give them the protection of the state.
Now, members of the blue blood that will assist LGBTQ community merge into the mainstream through skills enhancement.
Radhikaraje Gaekwad has decided to take the project to give them vocational training, with a particular focus on transgender.
“Transgender and eunuchs are also part of our society and why they must live apart? While worldwide transgenders have been accepted into the mainstream, just in the sub-continent, they are still treated differently,” said Radhikaraje, adding that trust aims to end this differentiation with skill-based training.
Radhikaraje is in talks with Lakshya trust based in Gujarat who have been working on achieving gender equity and empower third gender.
“They work for the improvement of this community and therefore we have decided to join hands with the Lakshya Trust to empower the transgender community,” Radhikaraje, Vice President Maharani Chimnabai Stree Udyogalaya (MCSU), told TOI.
Scion Gaekwad learn about the difficulties and marginalization of this community last year when he was distributing ration among the public during the first wave Covid last year through charity Maharaja Ranjitsinh.
This spurred the idea to integrate them into society and give them a livelihood as well.
MCSU will offer courses in vocational training including classroom maintenance, computer operations, beautification and English language skills to society.
“They can take one of the courses of their choice.
After they complete the course, we will also help them in getting a job.
We are already in talks with several companies who promise to give jobs to this community.
Once they start to work and live among us , the public will gradually accept it, “added Radhikaraje.