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Livelihood Security

Swabalamban Project

PROJECT SWABALAMBAN: SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOOD FOR THE TRANS*, QUEER COMMUNITY IN ASSAM

THE PROBLEM: ECONOMIC EXCLUSION OF TRANS* AND QUEER COMMUNITIES

Transgender and queer communities in India—especially in rural and small-town regions like Assam—face deep structural barriers to employment and economic self-sufficiency.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS
COMMISSION (NHRC), 2018 STUDY:

92% of transgender persons are denied the right to participate in any form of economic activity.
Only 6% have access to regular jobs in the formal sector.
Over 50% rely on begging or sex work for survival.
Community research discussion

These national findings are echoed and deepened by our own action research at Akam Foundation, conducted in 2024 with 96 transgender individuals from across Assam.

ACCORDING TO THE NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION
(NHRC), 2018 STUDY:

A majority of respondents are confined to the informal sector—engaged in daily wage labour, sex work, or begging.
Key barriers cited: discrimination in hiring, lack of identity documents, and skill mismatches.
Only 6% have access to regular jobs in the formal sector.
Only 11% reported access to formal employment.

Despite schemes like SMILE trans*, individuals in Assam remain largely invisible in livelihood and skilling frameworks due to poor outreach, lack of sensitization, and systemic exclusion.

OUR SOLUTION:

Launched in 2024, Swabalamban: Sustainable Livelihood for the Transgender and Queer Community in Assam is Akam Foundation’s pilot program addressing both the supply and demand sides of the livelihood challenge.

Livelihood intervention

OUR APPROACH COMBINES:

  • Action Research to generate community-owned data
  • Entrepreneurship support through skilling, mentoring, and small grants
  • Policy advocacy to ensure state programs reflect trans* realities

ACTION RESEARCH ON LIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF TRANSGENDER, QUEER COMMUNITY IN ASSAM:

  • In 2024, Akam Foundation conducted a study with 96 transgender individuals in Assam. Key findings:
  • Majority engaged in informal work (sex work, daily wage labour, begging)
  • Only 11% found in formal employment

REPORTED BARRIERS INCLUDE:

  • Lack of formal education
  • Lack of opportunity for self employment
  • Absence of trans-inclusive job platforms
  • Limited access to identity documents
  • Widespread hiring discrimination

This builds on NHRC 2018’s findings, grounding national concerns in Assam’s lived realities.

OUR INTERVENTION

1. COMMUNITY–BASED ACTION RESEARCH

  • Situational analysis and need assessment of trans* and queer livelihood realities
  • Regional lens to identify gaps in existing schemes

2. LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT & ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT

  • 15 individuals supported for income-generating activities in tailoring, digital services, food enterprises, and more
  • Provided with seed support, mentoring, and training
  • Ongoing accompaniment for business development

3. POLICY ENGAGEMENT & PUBLIC ADVOCACY

  • Conducted 3 stakeholder engagement workshops in 2024
  • Engaged 90+ stakeholders: state agencies, CSOs, employers, and educators
  • Created dialogue for trans* inclusion in livelihood policies like Orunodoi and SMILE
Livelihood intervention

REACH SO FAR

Queer Xangjug is a 10-month feminist leadership development program, tailored to nurture young queer individuals and allies (ages 18–35) across Assam in creating meaningful gender justice change.

96

trans individuals surveyed for livelihood mapping

15

individuals supported with seed funds & mentorship

3

district-level workshops with 90+ multi-sector stakeholders

Action research

and field insights feeding into state-level advocacy