Tag: Economic Inclusion

This is an early evening mid-range shot of around 14 trans masculine and other queer persons associated with the Samarth trans collective of Odisha standing behind a large rainbow pride flag during the ‘Puri Rainbow Pride Walk’ held on June 13, 2023. The flag is held at chest level across several of the walkers. Some of them are also holding posters with Odia and English text or small rainbow pride flags. They are all smiles as they look at the camera, and exude happiness. A number of other walk participants can be seen behind them. In the background, to the left, are several buildings, while to the right are some more buildings, a couple of palm trees, and a handful of open sky. Photo courtesy SAATHII

Vartanama Nov '23

Dreams and demands

By Bana, Pawan Dhall

Trans masculine individuals in Odisha are speaking up louder about their aspirations for the future – Bana shares a wish list with ‘Varta’ – hopefully most of it will come...

This illustration is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph is a display of a set of four tote bags made with cloth in combinations of bright colours like pink, blue, maroon, green and yellow. The fabric of the bags is sourced locally from Manipur. The bags have a vertical rectangular shape and have long handles made with thick cloth for ease of hanging the bag from one’s shoulder. The bags have a label made with thick paper clipped on one corner just below the handle – the label carries the name Matai Makes and provides details of Matai Society’s livelihood initiative to support the internally displaced people in Manipur. The accompanying text says: “The more prolonged the communal tension in the state, the longer will it take for normalcy to return in Manipur. This is where livelihood initiatives can play a crucial role because they help prioritize issues of survival and economic sustenance. Livelihood initiatives like those of Matai Society hold out the hope for a much larger process of self-reliance, recovery and healing in the state. This means that agencies like Matai Society and their partner organizations also need to sustain themselves.” Photo credit: Matai Society

Happenings, Manipur Relief Nov '23

Livelihood route to healing and recovery in Manipur

By Matai Society

Trans and queer youth are working out innovations to revive livelihood options for the internally displaced in Manipur. Matai Society urges you to join in

This illustration is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph is of a large blackboard with a light brown wooden frame. At the lower edge of the blackboard, the wooden frame has a ledge on which some chalk and a duster are placed. Text extracted from the accompanying article has been placed on the blackboard image in a typeface to simulate the image of text written with white chalk on a blackboard. The text says: “What can discussions on sexuality in a classroom do? I believe that when we confront sexual difference in the classroom, we learn to understand and respect diversity. Queer perspectives and narratives of pride and suffering open a space not just for acceptance but critical self-understanding. Queer lives are so precarious that even a space bound by a timetable can be liberating. Being acknowledged and validated in a classroom may engender a hope to survive outside it, and sometimes, it is survival that is at stake.” Blackboard image courtesy Cliparts.co via ‘Wikimedia Commons’

Insight, Vartanama Aug '23

For that sliver of hope

By Zaid Al Baset

Making educational institutions inclusive spaces for everyone is an uphill battle, but Zaid Al Baset is not giving up yet – his forecasts on inclusion as ‘Varta’ completes 10 years

Vartanama Jul '23

Tensions of the past and future

By Pawan Dhall

An imperfect digest of ‘Varta’ webzine’s journey through a decade of climaxes, anti-climaxes, and explorations for a social G-spot

This graphic is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph shows a scene from a Woolworths outlet in Johannesburg. Two mannequins clad in t-shirts, jeans and shoes stand next to rows of t-shirts and other clothes. One of the mannequins stands on a pedestal, with a long rainbow pride flag hanging behind it, and a poster in the forefront that says: “Be an ally – celebrating Pride 2023”. The extract of text says: “Pride isn’t about stating that we’re good enough to be accepted a month in a year. Pride is about making sure we’re accepted each and every day all through the year. Corporates play a big role in making that happen. However, when we will see performative allyship, we will call you out and remind you exactly how we contribute to your market. Because not only does our money matter – we matter too.” Photo credit: Debjyoti Ghosh

Insight, Vartanama Jun '23

Show us what pride is really all about

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Debjyoti Ghosh calls upon corporates to demonstrate stronger allyship that transcends anti-queer social and political pressures

This graphic is a combination of a photograph and text. The photograph is a close-up shot of a poster being held up by a participant at the ‘19th Kolkata Rainbow Pride Walk’ held on December 18, 2022. In large white-on-black letters, the poster says: “Trans is not meant to be tokenized”. The participant is not visible in the photograph but their hands holding the poster can be seen. The text accompanying the photograph says: “It was argued that even if one person has been issued a transgender identity card, then under Article 14 of the Constitution, the principles of justice and equality imply that all other persons who have applied for the identity card must also be issued such cards by the relevant government authorities. The court has upheld these principles and has directed the state government to address all the applications pending till date.” Photo credit: Kaushik Gupta

Happenings, Policy Matters Jan '23

Judicial fillip to transgender rights once again

By Pawan Dhall

Calcutta High Court has given the Government of West Bengal a month to clear the long-pending backlog on transgender identity certification in the state

Quote: The right to be recognized in one’s own name, the right to one’s bodily autonomy, the right to be a citizen in one’s own gender identity are basic rights in any functioning democracy. Despite the rich, albeit mired, history of transgender identities, and their inclusion and exclusion, in the Indian subcontinent, today, we are dealing with an issue that can make or break people. It can give transgender people the freedom to fly and claim each and every right possible in their own identity, or else it can entwine their lives into a bureaucratic nightmare.

Insight, Vartanama Oct '22

Trans identities lost in a bureaucratic haze

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Why does West Bengal have such a poor rate of transgender identity certification? Debjyoti Ghosh raises pertinent questions

This illustration shows a copy of the reply received from the LIC against the application filed by queer couple Suchandra Das and Sree Mukherjee under the RTI Act, 2005. The couple had asked if it was possible for them to nominate anyone who was not related to them by birth, consanguinity, marriage or adoption as a nominee for their insurance policies. The reply clearly states that there is no illegality in nominating any person, including a stranger or a legal entity. This part of the reply has been highlighted in the illustration in red colour. The reply also has details pertaining to other minor queries filed in the RTI application. The reply, dated April 26, 2022, is printed on the official letterhead of the LIC and carries details such as the name and signature of the LIC official concerned and the address of the LIC office in Delhi. The residential address of Suchandra Das and Sree Mukherjee has been redacted for reasons of confidentiality. Copy of reply courtesy Suchandra Das and Sree Mukherjee

Advice - Rights and Laws Oct '22

Clearing the mist on banking and insurance nomination rules

By Kaushik Gupta

Queer individuals in India can designate their partners or friends as nominees and successors for their bank accounts and insurance policies. Kaushik Gupta elaborates

Insight, Policy Matters Sep '22

Challenges in meeting queer community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic

By Susanta Pramanik, Jia Mata, Pawan Dhall

Excerpts from an analysis of the role played by community based organizations in working with queer people in India during the COVID-19 crisis and the challenges faced by the organizations

This photograph is an evening-time mid shot that shows Zoom Tea-O-Graphy owner Shankhadeep Mitra and chef Rupam standing next to each other on the pavement outside their café. They are facing the camera, dressed in smart casuals, and have bright smiles on their faces. Right behind them is the brightly-lit glass façade of the café, interspersed with a wall pillar. The pillar is covered with the painting of a tree winding its way up to the Zoom Tea-O-Graphy signage. The signage is an iconic presentation in bright red of a cup of tea placed inside a frame that resembles a camera, with the word ZOOM in all capitals placed at the base of the camera. All around the signage is the wall painting of the tree with its branches, green leaves, and birds flitting around on the branches. A few decorative lights can be seen hanging above and around the signage. Just behind Shankhadeep and Rupam is a row of low stools for those who want to sit out in the open. Behind Rupam are three steps leading to the glass door of the cafe. In the background, the cheerful interiors of the café in shades of peach, red and brown are visible through the glass front of the café. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Thought for Food Aug '22

Where ‘adda’ and photography keep the tea pot boiling

By Jia Mata

Jia Mata recommends some 'cha', 'chhobi' and 'charcha' at café Zoom Tea-O-Graphy, which is bubbling with possibilities in its third year

This is a close-up shot of a large, round red wine chocolate cake baked by the author for the New Year (2022) with wine bought from Bow Barracks, Kolkata during the Christmas week in 2021. The photograph has been taken under a soft light. The cake is placed on a plate, and the photograph shows about one quarter of the cake cut into two large slices along with the larger portion remaining intact. The cake is covered with powdery icing sugar that contrasts with the deep brown of the cake. A heart shape is etched out on the sugar coating, with a part of the heart sliced away. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Thought for Food, Vartanama Jan '22

Ache – bake – cake

By Pawan Dhall

Pawan Dhall shares a sad-happy bake story and plans for a new rising in 2022

Advice - Disability, Insight Jan '22

Is horizontal reservation ensuring jobs efficiently for the disabled?

By Amrita Chanda

Amrita Chanda elaborates on the situation of horizontal reservation for persons with disabilities in public sector employment

Policy Matters, Vartanama Nov '21

Trans inclusion in schools: A step forward and several backwards

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Debjyoti Ghosh on the politics around withdrawing the draft NCERT manual on transgender children’s inclusion in schools

This graphic consists of two thought clouds placed next to each other inside a horizontal rectangle. The first cloud on the left says “You must be aware about protecting your OTP – onetime password.” The second cloud on the right is much larger and says “But what about safeguarding your ORTP – online right to privacy?” The text in both the clouds is in a bold typeface. The smaller cloud has text in black, while the bigger one has larger text in red. The clouds are coloured in different shades of yellow and placed against a striking blue and lavender background. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall

Insight, Policy Matters Nov '21

Is digitization the new bed fellow for anti-queer discrimination?

By Brindaalakshmi K.

The author wants to alert queer people in India against an uncritical embracing of digital inclusion

This is a horizontal multi-coloured graphic with a bold black headline that reads "Varta Economic Inclusion Mentoring Forum". Underneath the headline, a series of three iconic visuals with accompanying text briefly describe the objectives of the forum – mentoring queer people from eastern and north-eastern India; connecting them with a team of social workers and field experts; and offering new opportunities for skills building and livelihood. The leftmost visual is of a closed fist emerging from a rainbow, symbolizing solidarity. The visual in the middle is a sign of networking among three people, and the visual on the extreme right is of two hands joined in unity and support. Artwork credit: Arkadeepra Purkayastha

Policy Matters, Vartanama Sep '21

Skills, jobs and freedoms

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Debjyoti Ghosh reflects on the learning so far from Varta’s fledgling economic inclusion mentoring forum

This lead graphic has text that says: “Queer cohabitation requires diverse support systems and services in addition to the protection that the law of the land extends to queer couples. These systems and services must address the socio-cultural barriers that the queer couples are bound to encounter. It’s unlikely that queer cohabitation can succeed just on islands of legal approval surrounded by a sea of family and social disapproval.” The text in black is superimposed on a background that shows a random spread of numerous heart shapes, some interlinked or coupled, others lying single and asunder, in different angles. The heart shapes are in a mix of steel grey, light blue and sea green colours, and form a striking backdrop to the text. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall (graphic based on Clip Art by Microsoft Office)

Insight Aug '21

In the matter of queer relationships – court approval vs. social disapproval

By Diksha Sanyal

What is life like for Indian queer couples who win court approval of their right to cohabit? An analysis by Diksha Sanyal with inputs from Pawan Dhall

Tagged Under: Economic Inclusion

Dreams and demands

Livelihood route to healing and recovery in Manipur

For that sliver of hope

Tensions of the past and future

Show us what pride is really all about

Judicial fillip to transgender rights once again

Trans identities lost in a bureaucratic haze

Clearing the mist on banking and insurance nomination rules

Challenges in meeting queer community needs during the COVID-19 pandemic

Where ‘adda’ and photography keep the tea pot boiling

Ache – bake – cake

Is horizontal reservation ensuring jobs efficiently for the disabled?

Trans inclusion in schools: A step forward and several backwards

Is digitization the new bed fellow for anti-queer discrimination?

Skills, jobs and freedoms

In the matter of queer relationships – court approval vs. social disapproval

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