Equipped with brooms, shovels, masks and other cleaning accessories, Delhi’s transgender community lead the way in cleaning up the Yamuna River bank near the capital’s ITO Chhat Ghat last week. Reports reveal that the community members joined hands with Aarohan, an NGO which has been working for transgender rights and welfare, and were motivated by doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Others involved in making this clean-up drive a success were the Delhi Police, doctors from AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital, ISKCON and Lahar Foundation.
The Yamuna River is one of India’s most polluted water bodies. The impact of water pollution is so immense in the nation now that some studies show that almost 70 per cent of our surface water and groundwater reserves are getting contaminated by biological, toxic, organic and inorganic pollutants. Initiatives to raise awareness about water pollution and its impact on rivers like the Yamuna, which are also considered holy, are undertaken every year. The Yamuna River clean up and associated awareness drive this year was led by the transgender community.
The AIIMS doctors who encouraged the transgender community members to lead this initiative—and also volunteered in the drive under the guidance of Dr Vivek Dixit, AIIMS’ leading orthopaedic scientist—have been doing a study on the bone density of Delhi’s transgender community. This team of researchers wanted to check if transgender people are susceptible to specific trends in bone loss, fractures and diseases like osteoporosis because of their unique bone structure, traditional activities and lifestyle. The results of this study can not only reveal specific healthcare needs of the community, but also help prepare resources to meet their healthcare needs where bone health is concerned.
Image courtesy: Media India Group