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NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 28:
 

Social Welfare Minister Poongothai releasing documentary  film at week-long celebration of Transgenders Day. Beautician Vasundara, Health Secretary  V K Subbaraj and Tamilnadu State AIDS  Control (TANSACS) project director  Supriya Sahu are also seen.

        Social Welfare Minister Poongothai has said that transgenders should primarily take care of their health so as to face challenges in life.

        She was addressing a function to mark the culmination of the week-long celebration of Transgenders Day, organised by the Tamilnadu AIDS Initiative (TAI), a project of the Voluntary Health Services (VHS), at Kalaivanar Arangam, here recently.

        Expressing concern over the treatment meted out to transgenders in society, the Minister said social recognition along with love and affection had to be given to them.

        The charter of demands put forward at the function include: government recognition for Transgenders Day, facilitating transgenders to get involved in social service activities, exposing the individuality of transgenders, pursuance of education through both distance education and open university streams, employment opportunities based on qualification, issuance of family card and driving licence, granting loans to the members of the SHG transgenders, police action against those who indulge in harassment of transgenders and medical counselling in all Government Hospitals.

        Later, the Minister said that all proposals would be taken up with Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for necessary action.

        VHS secretary N S Murali and TAI project director Lakshmi Bai also spoke.

        Over 1,000 transgenders from across the State gathered at the function. As part of the week-long campaign, the transgenders planted over 21,000 trees and over 3,000 transgenders pledged to donate their eyes. Special prayers were offered to over 550 children in hospitals across districts such as Chennai, Vellore, Salem, Coimbatore and Madurai.

        Later, the Minister released a documentary titled 'Nalladoru Samudayatirku Nangulam' . It was taken by the transgender community to showcase some of the welfare efforts taken by them to help the less- privileged.

        Health Secretary V K Subbaraj, Tamilnadu State AIDS Control (TANSACS) project director Supriya Sahu and AIDS Prevention and Control Project (APAC) project director P Krishnamurthy were also present on the occasion.