Nishali Kunder

Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi

Udupi, May 9: “Transgenders are told to change. It is been long since we changed. Itis time for you to change your point of view now,” says Kaveri Mary D’Souza, Karnataka’s first transgender auto-rickshaw driver.

Kaveri, born as Stany D’Souza in Pethri, Udupi, as a boy, was raised in poverty. He wanted to change as a woman after realising the alterations his body had undergone. Hence while doing his 10th class, he had to leave home with just Rs 20 in hand and started working in hotels in Surathkal for three months. Kaveri alias Stany says, “I felt guilty at work because there was no one to understand my feelings. So, after quitting my hotel job, I went to Mysuru. I knew no one there. The bus stop became my home. I used to feed on food that was served in temples or at a random wedding. This went on for nearly three months. That is when I saw people of my community near the bus stand and from there I came in contact with the NGO group ‘Geleya’.”

“When I started working in an NGO office, people of my community from Bengaluru used to visit the office as it was an NGO for Trans community people. When I saw those transgenders I could not believe that they were people of my community. I thought they were women by birth. They were so beautiful. I too wanted to be like them. That is when I decided to change myself as a woman completely and went to Bengaluru,” says Kaveri.

She did not get into her own profession after this transformation. Just like other transgenders she went through the chores as a sex worker and a beggar. She adds, “I too was into it as a sex worker and a beggar because we had no other option. We didn’t even have any proof of identity nor was anyone willing to offer a job to us. After many years I realised that why should I not bring a change in my life? This dissection got me into problems with my own community members for which I had to raise my voice and get out of there.”

“After the work experience in the NGO at Mysuru, I decided to work in another NGO called Samara in Bengaluru. There I got an offer from the MP B Jayashree’s to work in her office where I stayed for 10 months and after that, maybe because of my faith, I had to leave that job and come back to my native as I was afflicted by TB. I needed at least six months to get better. But, by the time I recovered completely and went back to Bengaluru, I was replaced by someone else,” says Kaveri. She said TB had taught her a great lesson regarding people who genuinely cared and who did not. When she was down with TB all her friends, colleagues and even her community members including relatives distanced themselves from her. It was just her mother and father who stood by her side. And the head of her community whom Kaveri calls her as Megha Amma and Prema sent her to Kerala for treatment and supported her.

The struggles never ended for Kaveri. After her recovery she returned to Bengaluru. And within four months she got news of her mother’s demise which broke her down from within. She came back to Pethri where she opened a general store near Kolambe, Brahmavar. Just after 15 days of opening her own store, due to the pandemic there was a lockdown. She had to bear two unsuccessful efforts in opening her own enterprise and rejections only because she was a transgender, Kaveri made the decision to ride an auto-rickshaw to establish a sustainable existence for herself.

“When I was in Bengaluru, I learned to ride a two-wheeler and a car. I had learnt to drive an auto-rickshaw just for fun from my neighbour Kantharaj. I decided to become an auto-rickshaw driver. But I was in need of some support. When I was in search of support, I found the Samrudhi Mahila Mandali. They had called me for a meeting as they were offering free tailoring machines, free auto-rickshaw, etc. for which even Deepa Bhandary, inner club, Udupi collaborated. After a month, I received Rs 60,000 along with another Rs 50,000 by loan. Then I bought my auto-rickshaw. That is where my life took a beautiful turn. For this beautiful change in my life, Samrudhi Mahila Mandali has played a vital role. After I took delivery of the auto-rickshaw they contacted Roshan, humanity trust with my documents and the entire loan amount got cleared which was Rs 1.8 lac. They also came forward to build my house by collecting an amount from several donors up to Rs 5.5 lac.”

Kaveri ekes out a living by driving an auto-rickshaw around the town of Pethri. Her services are available to clients on call after locating her at the Pethri auto-rickshaw stand. Kaveri has been felicitated by Kundapura Yaksha Raatri, Nirantar Udyavar, Samrudhi Mahila Mandali, Spoorthi Stree Sangathan, Trasi and also, Change Maker 2024 award from Deccan Herald. She also wants job protection for transgenders. “When a transgender asks for a job, either give her a job or create an opportunity for a job,” she adds.