Ashmitha Enous
In a press discussion held to announce the 3rd edition of the Trans Employment Mela 2025, transgender rights activists highlighted the systemic challenges the community faces while trying to secure housing. The event, held at Kalasmriti Ground in Goregaon West, was addressed by Abhina Aher, founder of the TWEET Foundation; Maya Awasthi, co-founder of the TWEET Foundation; and Anupama Easwaran, founder of InHarmony.
“The world has moved ahead, but the world of transgender persons is still 100 years behind,” said Abhina Aher, calling attention to the deep-rooted discrimination and marginalisation that continue to plague the transgender community.
Awasthi elaborated on the everyday obstacles faced by transgender homebuyers, stating, “Housing is a basic need for every individual, regardless of their gender, caste, or religion. But for transgender persons, access to housing becomes a serious issue for a couple of key reasons.” She explained that landlords often refuse to rent to transgender individuals, and when they do, the rent is disproportionately high under the pretence of doing them a favour.
Beyond private market discrimination, Awasthi pointed to policy gaps that exclude transgender persons from mainstream housing schemes. “There are hardly any government or private schemes, such as PM Awas Yojana or state housing schemes, that offer specific provisions or reservations for transgender individuals. Agencies like MHADA or CIDCO provide reservations for women but not for the transgender community,” she said.
One of the more shocking revelations came in the form of taxation disparity. Awasthi cited the example of Abhinav, a transgender woman who had to pay significantly higher property taxes than a cisgender man or woman for the same property. “When transgender individuals manage to save enough to buy a home, they often face higher property taxes compared to cisgender men and women,” she added.
Despite these challenges, there have been some signs of progress. Awasthi highlighted the Garima Greh initiative under the SMILE Scheme, through which the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment has set up 12 shelter homes across India for vulnerable transgender individuals. These shelters provide more than just housing — offering medical aid, educational opportunities, and pathways to employment.
“The goal is to help them earn a livelihood with pride and dignity,” she noted. On the policy front, Awasthi emphasised the need for inclusive state and central schemes. “We still urge the government to adopt inclusive policies in all central and state-level schemes — whether it’s PM Awas Yojana, Gharghanti Yojana in Maharashtra, or any other housing initiative — to ensure that the transgender community is truly included and supported.” She also pointed to positive examples from other parts of India.
“Several states, like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, have developed their own transgender policies. During the draughting of these policies, transgender community members are invited to be part of the consultation process,” Awasthi said.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu, the government has already introduced a dedicated housing scheme for transgender persons, which she urged other states to emulate. As for Maharashtra, Awasthi noted that the state’s transgender policy is still under draughting, and activists are pushing hard to ensure housing remains a central element. “We are actively engaging with the government to ensure that housing is included as a critical component of the policy — with the goal of developing dedicated infrastructure and support systems for the community,” she said.
The speakers jointly called for urgent policy interventions, including anti-discrimination clauses in housing laws and incentives for inclusive housing projects. They also urged civil society and the real estate sector to take responsibility in building safe, trans-friendly spaces. The event concluded with a strong call to action to uphold the rights, dignity, and freedom of transgender persons — not just in employment, but in every facet of life, including the right to a safe and dignified home.
