Kinnar Asmita

Established in 2010 as a Public Charitable Trust in Maharashtra's Thane district, Kinnar Asmita emerged as the pioneering community-based organization Read more (CBO) under the leadership of Ms. Neeta Kene and fellow transgender activists. With a principle rooted in community representation and empowerment, the organization operates by and for the transgender community, aiming to enhance their involvement across all aspects of life. Through grassroots efforts, Kinnar Asmita has significantly impacted the lives of transgender individuals, striving to educate, raise awareness, and empower the community against the social, cultural, and economic prejudices they face in Thane. After two years of persistent advocacy with governmental and non-governmental entities, and having offered extensive services to the transgender community, the group attained registration as a non-profit CBO in 2010 under The Societies Registration Act, 1860 and The Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950. Over the past thirteen years, Kinnar Asmita has bolstered its capacity to influence social justice initiatives in health rights, social inclusion, and crisis management. This has been achieved by fostering community participation, nurturing new leadership, and catalyzing community-driven actions. Presently, Kinnar Asmita boasts a robust organizational culture that embraces the aspirations of over 200 community members, aiming to integrate marginalized groups into the mainstream in Thane. With 17 full-time staff stationed across Bhiwandi, Kalyan, and Shahad, the organization implements diverse interventions on the ground. Transforming socially and economically marginalized individuals into catalysts for change, the organization has honed its expertise in crisis management, conflict resolution, and network strengthening, serving as a beacon for similar institutions in the state, setting a precedent for community integration and empowerment. Achievements: • Assisted 1900 Transgenders with HIV prevention and Care and Support services • Resolved over 100 cases of violence and crisis affecting the Transgender community • Provided nutritional support to more than 2000 children in Karjat and Panvel • Helped about 1000 Transgenders in accessing their social entitlements • Distributed approximately 7000 dry ration kits and 500 hygiene kits to the transgender community during the COVID-19 pandemic • Mobilized and facilitated 800 transgender individuals to receive COVID vaccination Kinnar Asmita engages in health advocacy, human rights initiatives, shelter provisions, and social and economic empowerment of the transgender community through various programs: • Asmita Warriors (Youth Group): Represents the collective voice of 80 transgender youths aged between 18 to 25, offering support and guidance to young members of the transgender community. • Nrityangana (Transgender Dancing Group): Showcases diverse dance forms, including Indian Classical, Folk, Semi-Classical, and Bollywood, serving as a means to assert cultural and sexual identities. • Ayushya: Extends support to transgender individuals living with HIV, delivering health services and aiding newly diagnosed members for a positive and healthier life. Currently, this group consists of 45 transgender individuals. • Unnati: Established in 2021 in Thane, this enterprise facilitates the sale of handmade products crafted by members of the transgender community, aiming to promote economic independence and sustainability.