Setting out an example of addressing the pandemic as the collective social responsibility, 50 transgender people in Chennai have donated to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund (CMPRF) to fight the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Most of these transgender people are living in a distressed state to win bread but they have decided to step up forward to support the government in its battle against the pandemic.
According to reports, these 50 people have contributed Rs 1000 each, making the total donation Rs 50,000. They had sent a cover letter to Chief Minister MK Stalin along with the demand draft. Sahodaran, which is a community-based organization working for trans people, has taken up the initiative of donating to the CMPRF. Sudha, who is part of Sahodaran, said, "We too are a part of this society, so we should be part of whatever happens, good or bad."
"Trans people are generally poor but there are a few who can contribute, so I put together a list of 50 people, who contributed Rs 1,000 each. On Monday, we donated Rs 50,000 to the CM's relief fund", Sudha added and said that they had sent a cover letter along with the demand draft. She further said that she will be sharing the information on their WhatsApp groups so the donors feel acknowledged and it will also inspire others.
Speaking to a news agency, 45-year-old Mahesamma, a transwoman in Tondiarpet in Chennai, said that she had asked her children to help raise the amount for donation. Mahesamma said, "I was working as a cook and would be called for cooking for weddings, engagements, and birthday parties. But now I don't have any work. So I had to ask my children to help me raise the money." "It's for a good cause, so many people are suffering. It's time for us to stand in solidarity. NGOs and volunteers helped us during the last lockdown. It's our turn to give back", Mahesamma added.
Shankari, a transwoman from Vyasarpadi, Chennai, was part of 50 trans people to donate to the CMPRF. Shankari was winning bread by begging on the streets of Chennai but for more than a year, she was surviving with the public distribution services and help from NGOs. Amid financial distress, Shankari has contributed Rs 1000 to the public fund to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sankari said, "I have no work for many months. But I had some savings and I had contributed that to the relief fund. So many people are dying or starving around us, so all of us should do whatever we can to help." Last week, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has appealed to the people across and beyond the borders to contribute to the government to fight the pandemic. Ever since he made the announcement, donations have been pouring in for the public fund.
Several celebrities, businessmen, and the general public have been donating to the public fund either online or by meeting MK Stalin. On Monday, superstar Rajinikanth has met the Chief Minister at Chief Secretariat in Chennai and donated Rs 50 lakh to the CMPRF while actor Vikram had donated Rs 30 lakh online. Earlier, actors Ajith, Sivakarthikeyan, and Sivakumar's family had donated to the fund by meeting MK Stalin. ADMK party has also announced that it will be donating Rs 1 crore to the relief fund. After learning that 50 transgender people have contributed to the public fund, several people had commended them for their support and generosity.
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