Warangal: GWMC steps closer to gender equality

Warangal: As a part of its efforts to empower the transgender community, the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) set up a generic pharmacy and handed it over to them.

Behind this huge initiative is none other than Municipal Commissioner Pamela Satpathy.

This is the first time in the country that a generic pharmacy has been set up and handed over to the transgender community for management.

The Commissioner who inaugurated the pharmacy near the Warangal bus station said that the initiative was aimed at empowering the transgender community besides strengthening them financially.

The initiative is also aimed at providing employment opportunities for them and to ensure gender equality.

The initiative is also taken to promote unity in the society so that they could live with dignity, said Pamela Satpathy.

Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Municipal Areas (MEPMA) and Urban Management Centre (UMC) departments set up SLFs and TLFs along with self-help groups.

Generic drugs are only available at one-third price compared to other drugs. The use of such medicines will benefit poor patients and the economically weaker sections. Setting up a pharmacy in such a commercial area would benefit both – the transgenders and poor patients, she said.

It may be recalled here that GWMC had already entrusted the transgenders to maintain community toilets as well as public toilets and Loo Cafes (luxury) in the city. They have been trained by SHG members for the management of nurseries. They would be paid in the same way as the others, Pamela informed.

Social activist EV Srinivas Rao, MEPMA supervisor Prasanna Rani, sanitary inspector Kumara Swamy, CO Srilatha, UMC representative Venkataramana, Transgender Association President Laila, members Siri, Sneha, Ashwini and Reshma were among others present.