A non-governmental organization based in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, has opened a sustainable livelihood center for transgender individuals. The Nee Thodu Society for Transgender Persons operates under the leadership of Sister Amitha Polimetla, its founder director. The member of the Salvatorian Sisters Congregation is committed to provi-ding skill training and employment opportunities. The center aims to enable transgender individuals to lead dignified lives and integrate into mainstream society. “Our goal with the Sustainable Livelihood Center is to dismantle the barriers that have historically excluded the transgender community,” stated Sister Polimetla, an advocate for skills-based empo-werment. “We believe that with the right skills and opportunities, every individual can lead a life of dignity and contribute meaningfully to so-ciety.” She emphasized the trans-formative vision of the center: “This center is more than just a skill train-ing facility; it’s a beacon of hope. It represents our commitment to creat-ing a future where transgender indi-viduals are not just tolerated, but truly integrated and empowered.” Currently, the center offers short-term courses in tailoring, jute bag making, and paper plate production.
Consistory to reflect on Church’s mission to communicate God’s love
In a letter to the Cardinals ahead of a late-June Consistory, Pope Leo XIV calls for a deeper reflection on the themes of “Evangelii gaudium,”
