Gayathri, A Transgender Woman, Opens Tiffin Shop In Tuticorin

The morning newspaper that fills itself with bleak and foggy hope for future might go bad with the morning cuppa. However, stories of actual struggles, achievements of the well deserved and a few heart-melting tales often make their way to keep that little fire ignited.

S Gayathri, a 26-year-old transgender woman recently opened "Nangai Tiffin shop" in Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu. With the help of her friends and the government, Gayathri kickstarted the operations at her shop on Wednesday. The inauguration of the metal sheet eatery at Saveriyar Puram in Thalamuthu Nagar was done by sub-inspector Shankar. The police personnel and Gaythri’s friends Boomika, Rejiya, Sreya and Sania also bought food from the eatery.
The shed was completed with the help of her friends, Tamilasaran and Chitra.

“The tiffin centre will be open from 7 to 11 in the morning and from 6 to 10 at night,” Gayathri informed the TOI. She further shared the menu at the tiffin centre consisting of idly, dosa, pongal and vada with chutney and sambar and poori with vadakari for breakfast.

The government supported Gayathri's plan by giving her a financial assistance of Rs 20,000, to establish their own business.

The long journey

This milestone for Gayathri came after fighting lots of battles. Her gender status posed its own set of challenges. Funds for the eatery and the place to start were difficult to find. Eventually, she got a piece of land on rent through Selvaraman of Thalamuthu Nagar. The government supported her plan by giving Gayathri an assistance of Rs 20,000. Her mentor, Boomika, 38, says, “As this money was not enough, she borrowed Rs 30,000.”

A total of ten people from the community got an equal assistance from the district collector on Monday.

Gayathri is sure about repaying the loan over a period of the next three months. Setting an example for the transgender community, she wishes to further scale up the restaurant on her own.

Also Read : How Women In Rural India Are Utilizing The Internet

Picture Credits : TOI

Rachna Chandira is an intern with SheThePeople.TV