In an exclusive conversation with Republic Business, Abhina Aher, renowned trans rights activist and Founder of the TWEET Foundation, opens up about a growing crisis that is threatening the very foundation of transgender livelihoods in India. As donor fatigue sets in and CSR funds shift priorities, trans-led and trans-affirmative programs across the country are facing shutdowns—not due to inefficiency, but because critical funding is vanishing.
Operating in Delhi and Mumbai, the TWEET Foundation has long served as a lifeline for India’s trans community, offering crisis response, shelter, healthcare, legal aid, and employment pathways. But under Abhina’s leadership, the message today is clear: “When the aid stops, it’s not just programs that disappear—it’s people’s futures.” In this candid interview, she shares ground realities, systemic challenges, and a heartfelt call to action for policymakers, philanthropists, and corporates to rebuild a more inclusive and equitable India.
Q1: Abhina, can you tell us what has prompted this urgent conversation about funding and the trans community today?
Abhina Aher:
We are witnessing a silent crisis. Many trans-led and trans-affirmative programs across India are shutting down or scaling back—not because they are ineffective, but because funding has dried up. Whether it’s CSR initiatives, philanthropic grants, or development aid, the sudden withdrawal or redirection of resources is dismantling years of grassroots progress. When the aid stops, the livelihoods of hundreds in the trans community are jeopardized—immediately and brutally.
Q2: What are some of the real-time consequences you’ve seen on the ground?
Abhina Aher:
The impact is devastating. Peer educators and community health workers—who were once the backbone of HIV awareness and health outreach—are losing jobs. Project leads and trans professionals who built careers in development work are back to square one. Skilling programs have been halted midway. Most painfully, safe community spaces that offered not just shelter but dignity, are shutting doors. This is not just an economic issue—it’s about survival.
Q3: Why do you think CSR and corporate support are being withdrawn?
Abhina Aher:
In the aftermath of COVID-19 and amidst shifting economic priorities, many CSR budgets have been diverted toward more visible, large-scale infrastructure or education programs. Unfortunately, trans rights and livelihoods often don’t make it to the priority list.
Another critical blow has been the withdrawal of support from key international donors like USAID, which had historically funded HIV prevention, healthcare, and empowerment programs for the trans community. USAID’s exit has left a massive gap—programs that were lifelines for thousands of transgender people are now struggling to survive or have shut down altogether. This is not just about funding; it’s about the collapse of a support ecosystem built over decades. Sometimes it’s due to a lack of understanding, and other times due to discomfort with queer issues—but the consequences are deeply structural and real.
Q4: What sectors or services are being affected the most?
Abhina Aher:
Grassroots health services, especially HIV prevention and care, have been hit hard. Programs focused on skilling, employment readiness, and entrepreneurship for trans youth are vanishing. We’ve also lost drop-in centres that provided psychosocial support, food, or even just a place to feel safe. These aren’t luxuries—they are lifelines.
Q5: What happens to the individuals who were employed under these programs?
Abhina Aher:
The loss of income pushes them toward unsafe informal economies—sometimes back into sex work or begging—not out of choice but compulsion. We are not talking about numbers here; we are talking about lives, identities, futures that were finally seeing some light and now feel abandoned. It’s heartbreaking.
Q6: What role can domestic funding and CSR play in reversing this situation?
Abhina Aher:
Domestic funders and CSR leaders need to step up. We need a redirection of resources back into trans livelihoods, health access, and social security. Corporates must recognise that trans inclusion is not a fringe issue—it’s a core part of inclusive development. Sustained public-private partnerships can amplify impact, especially when programs are led by trans people themselves.
Q7: What’s your call to action for policymakers and companies today?
Abhina Aher:
Invest in us. Not as charity, but as a commitment to justice and equity. Revive CSR funding for trans-led programs. Build public-private partnerships that place trans people at the centre, not the sidelines. Encourage domestic philanthropy to fill the gap left by international donors. If India wants to be truly inclusive and future-ready, it cannot afford to leave its trans citizens behind.
Last Updated on: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 5:04 pm by Admin | Published by: Prachi Chadha on Wednesday, May 21, 2025 5:04 pm | News Categories: Interview
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