A Hyderabad-based Mont-fort centre for human rights has launched a livelihood pro-gram for those who have lost their livelihoods because of Covid-19.

The first group to benefit from Montfort Social Institute (MSI) project, launched on July 21, is transgenders who lost their traditional occupa-tions such as begging and sex work after India imposed the lockdown on March 25.

The institute also works for sustainable development and good governance education.

Five members of the co-mmunity have started making and marketing ginger-garlic paste, an essential kitchen in-gredient, said MSI director Montfort Brother Varghese Theckanath.

The effort is well received by households that find the hygienically prepared product better than what they get from markets, Brother Theckanath told Matters India.

“Perhaps MSI is one of the few organizations related to the Catholic Church working with Transgenders in India.