- The facility was established in Lahore’s Rachna Town and open for old trans individuals living in the city, particularly those who are sick.
- It was established and funded by the Beghar Foundation, an advocacy group with the goal of forwarding transgender rights.
- Treatments for diseases like AIDS and hepatitis would be readily available for patients seeking them and all residents would have free food, shelter, and medical care.
A shelter facility dedicated to the elderly transgender people opened in Lahore, India according to a recent Geo TV transgender news stories published last April 26.
The facility, established and funded by the Beghar Foundation, an advocacy group forwarding transgender rights, was established in Lahore’s Rachna Town and open for old trans individuals living in the city, particularly those who are sick.
Safe haven
With the purpose of providing safe haven for trans Indians, the facility was considered the first-ever of its kind in India that would be a home for elderly transgender people, especially those who are sick and seeking treatment.
Treatments for diseases like AIDS and hepatitis would be readily available for patients and all residents would have free food, shelter, and medical care.
A resident said in an interview that the place has provided refuge for the members of the neglected transgender community.
“Khawaja sera are homeless. This is the best facility for them. This is no less than heaven for us,” the resident explained.
Other residents of the facility also claimed that they were glad they found a place that accepted them for who they are and they were no longer worried whether their families would choose to take care of them or not.
“I used to get very upset when I see transgender people walking helplessly on the roads,” Ashi Butt, chairperson of the facility, said. “Now, God has listened to my prayers and transgender people with AIDS, hepatitis have found a safe haven.”
While currently it has limited resources and facilities, it could admit 50 people and Butt hoped that the situation would improve in the future.
India’s first home for the elderly transgender individuals
More details from the Dawn website revealed that currently, the house had 28 beds and their admission policy would prioritize transgender people who were living with life-threatening diseases.
It had also chosen to hire a physician to look after its residents.
Butt, a transgender woman, said that she worked hard to make the facility, the country’s first institution that catered for the needs of old transgender Indians, a dream come true.
“Whatever I earned by working at events and weddings has been invested in this old-age home,” she said.
Looking forward to the facility’s formal inauguration during Ramadan (also called Ramazan), Butt said, “At least 50 trans people have already registered with the facility.”
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