PHOTOS: Transgender community of Kashmir left to fend for themselves amid Covid

Singing and dancing at weddings used to earn transgenders in Kashmir enough income to take care of their family. Until the pandemic. Lockdowns to curb the coronavirus in Kashmir canceled weddings and musical evenings. Transgenders are a marginalized community in Kashmir whose members are often only able to find work as matchmakers or wedding entertainment. Prolonged coronavirus lockdowns, preceded by a strict security lockdown in the region in 2019 when India scrapped Kashmir's semi-autonomous status, left many in the transgender community with no work at all, many of them makeup artists, singers and matchmakers who have lost their livelihoods during the pandemic. Left without livelihoods, some stepped up to help each other, making volunteer groups to distribute food. Life has not been easy for many of Kashmir's transgender people. Most are ostracized by families and bullied in society. They face domestic abuse and end up running away from families at an early age. Some lack housing, education and other basic resources.

Updated on: Jun 18, 2021 5:01 PM IST

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A transgender Kashmiri Maliaka Sheikh, in tradition attire of Kashmiri dancers, poses for photographs inside the home of a friend on the outskirts of Srinagar, Kashmir, Thursday, June 3, 2021. The 22-year-old transgender left home as an 11-year-old and started living with other transgenders. "At the beginning it was difficult for my family to understand me but fortunately, they have now accepted me for who I am," Maliaka said. (AP)

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35-year-old transgender Kashmiri Shabnam Ganie prays at home in Srinagar, Kashmir, Friday, May 28, 2021. Shabnam is one of the few fortunate transgenders who own a home, where she lives with an adopted son. Life has not been easy for many of Kashmir's transgender people.. (AP)

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Babloo Shiekh, a transgender Kashmiri, sits for a photograph at home in Srinagar, Kashmir, Wednesday, June 2, 2021. Babloo is one of the head transgenders, one of the few who live with family. Most of Kashmir's transgender people are ostracized by families and bullied in society. (AP)

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Mehreen Bhat, a transgender Kashmiri, poses for a photograph inside a rented room shared with another transgenders on the outskirts of Srinagar, Kashmir, Saturday, June 5, 2021. (AP)

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A transgender Kashmiri Shabana Pallo, left, Mehak Mir, center, and Chandini Sheikh rest at the end of a special meet of their community members in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (AP)

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A transgender Kashmiri Shabana Pallo, also one of the gurus, speaks during a special meet of community members in Srinagar, Kashmir, Thursday, June 3, 2021. (AP)