Trans-woman laments on social media after being attacked in Kochi

Kochi: Sajna Shaji, a transgender woman from Kochi, Kerala had to eventually go on Facebook live, to get a resolution of her grievous situation, to prove herself right before the public and authorities on account of it.

Being Kerala's first transgender woman to secure her Voter's ID, she had been attacked and interrupted from further continuing her biriyani sales business by her rivals over the same on Monday this week. Sajna Shaji, along with her four other trans-women partners, had begun their biriyani sales on the streets of Irumpanam near Kochi, soon after which her opponents had reared one of their own as a strategy to jeopardise her business, verbally assaulting her seriatim.

Sajna lamented live "All the food I had cooked for today's business had gone to waste. I had made 20 meals and 150 Biriyanis, out of which only 20 Biriyanis were sold. I'm at an impasse in my life now, confused about what to do as I don't even have money to get the grocery for tomorrow's business".

She also rhetorically added whether it is their fault that they are created the way they are and the same majority who asks them to earn a livelihood through jobs, is now obstructing them from accomplishing the same, leaving them with no options to financially stabilise themselves, by any means.

The attackers came along with an imposter, a food safety inspector from Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), accusing her on the hygiene and quality of her food when no such action had been taken from the FSSAI's side. When this was covneyed to the local police, Sajna had to face more problems and complications.

Smt. K K Shailaja, Minister of Health and Social Justice, with the help of the Kerala State Youth Commission, have lent their hands under Kerala Social Security Mission's project titled 'We Care', by offering her the cover of police security for Sajna as well as a compensation for her loss, via a personal direct call from the minister herself.

A case has been registered over the attack on the transgender woman to delve deep into the case for further details. Apart from the authorities, various influential personalities like Malayalam actors Jayasurya and Fahadh Faasil have also come forward to extend support and help her regain her biriyani business and go about it in full swing. Sajna can now resume her business with no worries about anyone taking the matter into their hands recklessly and selfishly against humanitarian norms.

(The story is translated by Rinu Razak)