Click to play videoChandigarh: In a first of its sorts, homosexuals in Chandigarh's slum colony have emerged from the shadows to start a self-help group.
Pradeep, a homosexual, lives in a slum colony and is supported by the NGO, Family Planning Association of India.
With assistance from a self-help group, he learnt how to make jewellery for a living.
"After joining this group, we are feeling confident. We have learnt the art of making jewellery," Pradeep said.
Thanks to these social workers, their efforts are yielding results.
"We have started a self-help group for this MSM group and they are very happy designing jewellery. We called a jeweller from Mumbai and provided them the raw material to design jewellery and now each piece is fetching Rs 1,000," social activist, Veena Monga said.
The jewellery made by the self-help group members are being sold in many shops in the city. But it hasn't been an easy journey for these people.
"People want to join our association but they don't accept us. The society will always look upon us negatively." Deepika, a homosexual said.
The self-help group has no legal status. It has now applied for registration. It is also looking to expand and induct members from all sections of the society.
In a society that has bound these people in a rigid stereotype, a few steps are being taken to reinvent themselves and forge a new identity.
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