After reports that many transgender persons working in Kochi Metro had quit their jobs due to lack of accommodation, a few families have now come forward to provide help.
A spokesperson of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) confirmed that two or three families have expressed their consent to provide stay for the transgender community.
“The crisis of the transgender employees not being able to find a decent accommodation within the limits of their salary, which led to their opting out of the job, had come to the attention of the public lately. Around 2-3 families in the city have showed their willingness to provide accommodation for them,” the spokesperson told The Times of India.
Eight out of the 23 transgender persons hired by Kochi Metro have already quit, after they were unable to get good accommodation in the city.
There were reports that a few of the employees stayed in houses which were nothing more than makeshift tin-roofed accommodation atop lodges, for which they had to shell out Rs 400-Rs 600 per day.
Further, in order to pay this rent, they had to continue relying on sex work and begging despite being employed in Kochi Metro. However, later KMRL offered to take care of the lodging of transgender persons and arranged hostel facility in Kakkanad from July 1.
“We have arranged for rooms in a hostel in Kakkanad, about 10 kilometres away from the metro station they work at. 12 of them, who need accommodation, have agreed to move into these rooms by July 1. KMRL will also be providing them with a transport facility so that they can report to work easily,” KMRL spokesperson Reshmi told The News Minute earlier.
The cost of hostel accommodation is Rs 600 and transportation will be free for them, she said.
KMRL has kept July 5 as the deadline for employees who quit to join back.