Transgender and gender-divergent people historically held deeply rooted, honoured roles within India’s rich spiritual and cultural tapestry. They have been historically revered for their spiritual power to confer blessings of fertility, prosperity, and longevity during events like weddings and childbirth. Some are also practitioners of traditional dance and sacred theater, embodying goddesses and female figures from the Puranas for generations. Yet at the same time, systemic social exclusion has forced into precarious livelihoods such as prostitution, leaving them vulnerable to insecurity and violence. 

In 2023, Amma inaugurated an initiative to address the deep discrimination they have faced. She started with a training centre in New Delhi. Because transgender people are often rejected by their birth families, they have long built resilient, alternative kinship networks across the subcontinent. A person joining a community in a rural village becomes part of a broader network connected to major hubs like Delhi or Mumbai.

The Amrit Shakti Empowerment Center in New Delhi—launched by Amrita University’s Centre for Women’s Empowerment & Gender Equality—immediately became a sanctuary of safety, belonging, and opportunity. Through vocational training, digital literacy, leadership development, and life-enrichment courses, students gain the confidence and practical skills required to ensure their economic independence.

Current Programs & Livelihood Pathways

• Skill Training: Professional instruction in Beauty Therapy and Self-Employed Tailoring, tailored to students’ unique talents and interests.
• Essential Life Skills: Comprehensive education in business communication, financial management, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
• Collective Enterprise: Guidance on forming Self-Help Groups (SHGs), obtaining official MSME business registration, and accessing long-term mentorship for collective business ventures.

To expand opportunities for the community, Amrit Shakti is introducing advanced tracks in Professional Makeup, Nail Art, and Fashion Design. As graduates thrive, they return to the center as mentors, guiding the next generation of students toward self-reliance. Amma has invited some members to Amritapuri where they proudly expressed their talents through their inherent love of beauty. Just as Amma expresses, we are all petals of a flower blooming to its full potential.