Meet Mumbai’s only transgender poll candidate

Mumbai: Priya Patil, a 30-year-old transgender, has filed her nomination as a Nagrik Adhikar Manch (NAM) candidate from ward number 166 in Bail Bazar, Kurla West.

She is smart, educated and works for a trust, which supports transgender community. She has now decided to enter political fray to create awareness about her community by contesting the upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls.

She has completed a diploma course in social work from Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work, Churchgate, and is now working as a program manager for the Kinnar Maa Trust, which works for the transgender community.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about the transgender community, and I want to change it. I want to educate and empower our people and provide employment to them. If elected as a corporator, I will be able to pursue our issues at the government level in a much efficient manner,” said Ms Patil.

Highlighting the “apathetic” approach of government towards transgender community’s demands, she said, “Our trust Kinnar Maa has been demanding a Ashram (shelter home) for transgender community for last five years. But no decision has been taken yet.”

“I want to set up Ashrams in the city for the transgender community where we can educate and empower them. Due to discrimination and stigma, Kinnars are not able to seek education even if they wish so. We plan to set up at least three such Ashrams across the city for their benefits,” she added.

Apart from this, Ms Patil also wants to start skill development and career guidance programmes for women and unemployed youths in her ward.

“The complaint of the people about the civic issues will be recorded. This way, I would be able to solve their problems,” she said.