Partners

Their platform for gender and gender and sexual minorities aims to amplify their voice, ensure equal participation in society, build sustainable livelihood, and attain self-esteem and dignity.  This includes working with policymakers, government, media and the private sector for employment opportunities, conducting research and disseminating sensitisation, policy changes, skill training, and social welfare measures.

Discrimination experienced by transpersons was compounded in the pandemic, with them being blamed for the spread of COVID-19, and their livelihoods and mental health being further impacted. Daily survival had become difficult during the pandemic, and even after, it was not easy to resume livelihoods. Male-assigned transpersons also often face violent abuse by the police. Jeeva was, therefore, dealing with greater crisis cases, providing support in person and online.

Project with MHI

In non-urban spaces, even at the district level, there is a severe lack of affirmative mental health support. Therefore, Jeeva is working on building a team of 12 community counsellors from 5 districts of Karnataka to provide mental health intervention through peer support and counselling. The counsellors will also provide in-person crisis intervention, if needed, with support from the key members of the community. The counsellors will be trained to promote peer support, create awareness of mental health and facilitate linkages to schemes and social entitlement with the engagement and support of community members and networks. Documentation of case studies of the interventions done by the counsellors will help Jeeva identify areas that require additional support. 

Visit the Jeeva website here.