The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, in collaboration with the Laxmanrao Inamdar National Academy of Cooperative Research and Development (LINAC), the training arm of the National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC), and the National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), organised a special awareness programme on cooperatives for the transgender community. More than 100 members of the transgender community participated in the initiative.

During the sessions, experts highlighted on how cooperatives can serve as a powerful instrument for economic empowerment, collective growth, and social inclusion. The participants were informed about cooperative models, registration processes, access to financial support, and the wide range of opportunities cooperatives offer for sustainable livelihoods.

Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Latha Ganpathy, IAS, Joint Secretary, DoSJE underlined the government’s commitment to ensure inclusive development and equal opportunities for all sections of society. She reiterated that such initiatives would pave the way for the transgender community to participate meaningfully in nation-building through cooperative enterprises.

The Director General, LINAC emphasized that cooperatives are not just economic entities but also platforms for social solidarity, enabling marginalized communities, including transgender persons, to become self-reliant and integrated into the mainstream economy.

The programme concluded with an interactive session, where participants expressed keen interest in forming cooperative societies in areas such as agriculture credit societies, skill development, micro-enterprises, and social welfare activities. Officials of LINAC, DoSJE and NISD were present during the program.

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KV

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