India’s first ‘Trans Tea Stall’ at a railway platform comes up at Guwahati

Speaking to indianexpress.com over phone, Swati Bidhan Baruah, founder of the All Assam Transgender Association, said, “The association’s prime goal is to bridge the gap between the transgender community and mainstream society. We want to empower the community and generate income for them. The railway authorities immediately approved our proposal after discussion and the stall was set up within five days. On the sixth day, inaugurated the stall. We made it all happen with the money from my savings.”

India’s first “Trans Tea Stall” at a railway platform.

📍Guwahati Railway Station pic.twitter.com/JSi8OS9VKM

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) March 13, 2023

Two transgender people run the stall currently on shift basis round the clock. Along with snacks and cold drinks usually sold in tea stalls, they are also selling Assam’s traditional food.

Anshul Gupta, General Manager of North East Frontier Railway said, “The Railway’s objective is to promote gender equality at railway stations. Guwahati, being the most visited station with about 8 billion footfalls, is a good spot for their business. There are plans to install such stalls in other railway stations as well such as in Bihar, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur, Sikkim after discussion with the state governments.”

Baruah added that the stall run in Kamrup district administration premises is doing well. She emphasised on the employment opportunity provided by such a stall for the community. As per estimates, there are over 30,000 transgender people in Guwahati.

While mentioning about the warm response received by the public, Baruah said Rani, who works at the stall, was earlier forced to beg for survival. “Now, the platform has given her employment. She has been accepted by everyone. Several people praise her now and she is happy to associate with the tea stall.”