Kochi: Kochi Metro was appreciated to consider the marginalised community of transgenders as their employees. They had hired 23 transgenders to reduce the stigma they suffer in India. But within a week of operation of Metro trains, nine of them have quit their jobs as they were unable to find cheap accommodation in the city.
The employees had discussed the issue to Kochi’s mayor and the district collector but they have turned a blind eye towards the issue. Unable to cope up with the accommodation and wage system, nine of them have quit the job, reported OneIndia.
The authorities of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd brought up the discussion with the district collector on Saturday to arrange affordable accommodation for them.
People who rent out the lodging facilities don’t let transgenders to live in their facility, which adds up to the difficulty finding a place to stay for the transgenders in our society.
Employees who are in the ticketing section draw a gross salary of Rs 10, 500, the House Keeping staff gets only Rs 9,000 while their job hours extend to eight hours a day.
‘Though there are many vacant houses for rent, the owners refuse to hire it out to us. We’re forced to stay in lodges coughing up over Rs 600 per day,’ employees had said. However, officials at Kochi Metro have refused to comment.