Learn how to ‘wash dirty linen’ from Madurai TRC

The TRC is one of the first of its kind started by Priya Babu in 2014, and has numerous books, materials, CDs and so on, on transgenders. The TRC is used by college students for their research and Priya Babu is involved in making a documentary on the historical reference of transgenders. 

Though the TRC is abuzz with visitors, mainly activists and students, the public do not visit the centre in considerable numbers.

The transgender community is still seen facing the problem of social exclusion and people are hesitant to absorb them into the society. 

To end the menace of such exclusion and to change the perception among the public about transgenders, Priya Babu had decided to bring the common man to the centre. So, she had started a free training programme on dry cleaning for the public. 

Speaking to DT NEXT, Priya Babu said the training programme has twin agendas. One is to give training for people on dry cleaning and to make them independent. The second is to bring people to the centre and make them understand transgenders. 

Still, people do not have proper understanding about transgenders and generally stay away from the community. If they come to the TRC, they will understand the problems faced by the community and the training programme is seen as part of social inclusion movement, said Priya Babu.

On the other hand, the people who undergo the training for one week will be able to start earning on their own and they can also become trainers. The training programme began on Tuesday and on the very first day two sarees were given for dry cleaning. Also, when people come to give their clothes for dry cleaning they get a chance to visit the centre and through the training programme more people will get to know about the transgender community, said Priya Babu. Though the training is provided at no cost, the trainer is paid Rs 3,000 by the TRC.