Initiatives such as Khudol signify that Manipur has been more accommodative to the transgender community than any other state amid the COVID-19 lockdown.
The United Nations Secretary General’s Envoy on Youth has mentioned Manipur’s ‘Khudol’ initiative in the top 10 global initiatives, for its inclusive fight against the ongoing COVID-19. This crowdfunded initiative was started by Ya_All, an Imphal based NGO.
Khudol (gifts) is a people lead the initiative. It ensures health, hygiene and food for LGBTQI+ community, people living with HIV, daily wage earners, adolescents, and children. The model of inclusive safe space was created with the help of the Imphal West district administration and the local thangmeiband united club to provide separate rooms and toilets for the transgenders and a ramp for the differently-abled at the quarantine centre.
The NGO has also been responsible for creating India’s first transgender football team.
Initiatives such as Khudol signify that Manipur has been more accommodative to the transgender community than any other state amid the COVID-19 lockdown and ensured that they have not been put into quarantine centres for men.
On May 21, the state’s social welfare department also opened two dedicated quarantine centres especially for transgender persons, who have been stranded outside their state. This was done to ensure the emotional security of transgender persons during the ongoing pandemic as the members of the community were facing problems in sharing facilities with female and male inmates.