Currently in its sixth year, Solidarity and Action Against the HIV Infection in India (SAATHII)’s fellowship programme is providing LGBTQI activists with the tools they need to empower their local communities across India. The fellowship offers resources that enable activists to dedicate themselves full-time to LGBTQI advocacy, focusing on raising awareness, securing healthcare access, providing legal aid, advocating for housing, and challenging discriminatory practices.
Although India has made progress in legally recognising transgender people, there still exists a gap between the laws that exist and the challenges they face: stigma, violence, and limited access to education and healthcare.
In Bhadrak district, Odisha, nine transgender individuals (seven trans women and two trans men) saw their education cut short. School bullying, lack of family support, and systemic discrimination had forced them to abandon their studies, leaving them without formal qualifications and limited opportunities for their future.
Then they met Soummya Das.
Soummya, a trans woman and SAATHII Fellow supported by GiveOut, saw an opportunity to help. She worked within India’s open schooling system to enroll all nine students, then advocated with local district administration to secure educational scholarships. Throughout the year, she tutored and mentored them, providing academic support and guidance.
The result? All nine students have now successfully graduated Grade X.
But Soummya’s impact didn’t stop there. Building on this success, she facilitated the enrollment of three additional trans women in the open schooling system, one pursuing Grade X and two working toward their Intermediate qualifications. She ensured all three were connected with educational scholarships to support their studies. Soummya also enrolled herself in an undergraduate degree program and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree soon after her mentees completed Grade X.
These are more than just exam results – each graduate now has the education they need to pursue higher education, access better jobs, and build economic independence. For those still in the system, they represent hope and continued progress toward breaking cycles of educational exclusion.
By navigating complex bureaucratic systems, securing financial support, and providing ongoing mentorship, Soummya helped these twelve individuals overcome the systemic barriers that too often prevent transgender people in India from accessing basic rights like education.
Through SAATHII’s fellowship programme, activists like Soummya have the resources they need to empower their local communities and advocate for their rights.