In a first, transgender persons in Karimnagar get loan, driving license

Collector RV Karnan handed over the cheque for Rs.5 lakh to Asha during a programme held at the Collectorate in the city

Karimnagar: For the first time in the State, a transgender person was sanctioned a loan to set up a self-employment unit under the Prime Minister’s Employment Generation Programme. Karimnagar also recorded a first by giving a transgender person a four-wheeler driving license on Tuesday.

Ashadam Asha, a member from the scheduled caste community, was sanctioned a subsidy loan of Rs.5 lakh, with which she will be running a photo studio. Collector RV Karnan handed over the cheque for Rs.5 lakh to Asha during a programme held at the Collectorate here on Tuesday.

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Speaking on the occasion, Karnan said it was for the first time in the State that a transgender person was sanctioned a loan to establish a self-employment unit. The State Bank of India, Karimnagar branch had sanctioned the loan to Asha to help her in her career as a photographer with a studio, he said.

The event also saw another first in the State, with another transgender person, Nakka Sindhu, being provided with a four wheeler driving license.

A native of Sastrynagar, Sultanabad of Peddapalli district, Asha migrated to Karimnagar and settled here. Passionate in photography, she chose the photography field and has been running a photo studio in Adarshanagar since 2017. Speaking to Telangana Today, Asha said she chose the field as she was confident about herself and her abilities to make a living out of photography. She has been clicking birthday functions, pre-wedding and post-wedding shoots apart from covering other functions as well.

However, finances were a problem, which was why she chose to go for a loan under PMEGP, which she would use to upgrade her studio.