Belagavi to Brooklyn: How Indian filmmaker Siddharth Salgaonkar’s home-grown short made it to the Toronto Film Festival
Published by: Team GI Youth
(August 27, 2023) “A film so guerilla that it was written, directed, shot, and edited by me, in my house, with no crew, and my mom as the only actor,” Siddharth Salgaonkar said, about his short-film, Monster. The one-minute short was among the 23 selected from around the world to screen at the Toronto International Film Festival. It was a big break for the young Indian filmmaker and put Belagavi, a town in Karnataka, on the world map. “Monster was made using available materials and meagre resources, featured my mother Seema as an actress and my father Hemant as a crew member,” the young Indian filmmaker told The Hindu. “As a child, I wanted to be either a chef or a filmmaker. I think I have made my choice now after a lot of thought,” he smiled.
Siddharth was born in Belagavi and his father, Hemant Salgaonkar is an artist trained at Mumbai’s JJ School of Art. Creativity runs in the family, his mother is a Marathi theatre artist and a yoga teacher and his brother graduated from the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad and is now a UX-Designer in California.
Siddharth went on to study at the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in Georgia and graduated in 2022. These days, Siddharth lives in Brooklyn, where he continues to pursue his dream of being a writer / director / actor. He’s also exploring a new interest – standup comedy. Now a regular performer in New York’s standup comedy circuit, the polymath is also working on his next independent film. “I’d dreamt of living in New York since I was little,” the Global Indian says. “I’m in love with the city and the people and want to continue living here for the foreseeable future.”
Early Student Films
He began making films as a student at the Srishti School of Art in Bengaluru, doing both fiction and non-fiction. His first film, Call, explores the relationship between a mother and son, and was based on true events. In the film, the protagonist waits for a call from his mother, which never comes. Although he doesn’t know why, he senses that something is wrong. In ‘Delete’, a “seven shot short”, a young man becomes oddly attached to an eraser. His films usually focus on the mundane, but are filled with tension and leave the audience wondering why. In Masala Beda, for instance, he captures the anxious anticipation of a student who waits for his order at the college canteen.
The non-fiction work of young Indian filmmaker, on the other hand, takes on social concerns. ‘Livelihood on a Ride’ delves into the ongoing battle that street vendors have against the municipality and the government in Bengaluru, as they jostle each other for space to make their meagre living. Ganesh Visarjan Bangalore is a brief documentary of the Ganesh Chaturthi celebrations in Yelahanka.
Although his shorts make an impact, they have their share of challenges. “As an independent filmmaker, you have to restrict yourself while writing a film to make sure you can afford to make it,” he explains. “I would like to believe that my ability to write humour – especially the dark, satirical kind – is one of my best characteristics,” says Siddharth, who sees himself as a writer first, then an actor and a standup comedian. “Stories play the most important role in my life. Coming from a small town in India, there are a lot of culturally unique stories and experiences that I have picked up that I want to narrate to the world.”
(June 14, 2023) “Ignoring the well-being of the 103 million (elderly) population of India is no less a humanitarian crisis. Just as the children, the grandparents of the society deserve to have a better, rest of their life,” Eisha Yadav wrote, in her entry to the essay competition organised by US based India Philanthropy Alliance (IPA) - a coalition of non-profit, philanthropic, and charitable organisations that mobilise people and funding in the United States to support meaningful causes in India. The youngster won the first prize and a cash award of $1000 to donate to a non-profit of her choice. “After doing a lot of research, it was clear that the team of HelpAge India were not only doing great work in the field of combating social isolation and loneliness of the elderly but also making sure that they don’t have to work in their old years, and have enough money to take care of their health.” says Eisha as she connects with Global Indian from California. The youngster donated the entire prize money to the organisation. That was in 2021. “We are still working together to this day,” she says with a smile. [caption id="attachment_31067" align="aligncenter" width="444"] Eisha Yadav[/caption] Personal
derly but also making sure that they don’t have to work in their old years, and have enough money to take care of their health.” says Eisha as she connects with Global Indian from California. The youngster donated the entire prize money to the organisation. That was in 2021. “We are still working together to this day,” she says with a smile.
The ninth grader’s choice of non-profit (HelpAge India) to donate her prize money and later get actively associated with them as a volunteer from the US stems from her personal experiences.
At 90, and until he succumbed to COVID-19, Eisha’s fiercely independent maternal grandfather lived by himself in his hometown, Raipur in India. “Earlier, when my grandma was alive and needed medical attention, they lived in a different Indian city. I could not help but notice, in both cases, how lonely and bored they felt, and how unprepared and lacking the society was to support the lifestyles of the elderly” she mentions.
After her grandmother passed away her grandpa became lonelier. “It was sad and heart breaking to see him struggle with loneliness and isolation. “Though he was active, it was difficult to find things to engage himself. “Back in the US, Eisha and her mother tried to look up for opportunities for some interesting hobby classes to keep him engaged. “There were hardly any good options,” she says. Even though he found love from family members, it was hard for him to feel happy and experience a sense of wellbeing because he felt very lonely and isolated.
“I felt bad about how, in such a big society, the elderly population suffers from loneliness,” she says. “The city he knew, loved and cared for so much was not able to support his wants and needs,” she adds.
During this time, she came across the news of the essay competition of IPA. “I thought it was a cool opportunity to put across the thoughts that were worrying me so much to people who cared. Winning the competition opened a lot of opportunities for me to do something about an issue I really cared about due to my personal experiences,” Eisha remarks.
Finding support
“I have a lot of support from the organisation (HelpAge India) and I really try to do what I can to make a difference,” she says. As a high school student there are time constraints but Eisha tries to give as much time as possible to the cause. “For most causes to get successful awareness is foremost. Once you can raise awareness, you can take the cause forward easily,” she says.
She has been spreading awareness on different platforms including presentation in the local mall in California. “Since I stay in the Bay Area, there is a huge population of Indian people with whom I can engage for the cause,” she says. “I am working with American friends of HelpAge India. We are working on new initiatives and helping in fundraising and supporting the prior programmes of the organisation,” she explains.
Way ahead
Born and raised in California, Eisha has seen US cities with adult service and recreation centres offering organized activities designed specifically for the elderly. Her paternal grandfather, who is retired from the Indian Army and now stays in Bengaluru, also enjoys good facilities and community centres.
“But it is something lacking in the city in which her maternal grandparents lived. They had boring and lonely lives,” she says. “My plan is to work with local establishments in India, one city at a time, and launch programs that mimic the US and Army community centres for elderly.
“As long as I can remember I have had a knack of solving problems in whichever way I could. I always strive to make my community a better place.” The youngster is grateful that her writing talent led her to an association with the India philanthropy Alliance. “That really got me into philanthropy. The fact that my ideas were recognised and I as a kid can make a difference in issues that I care about has got me going,” the fourteen-year-old student of Menlo School, Atherton adds.
31 percent of the elderly have fear of getting hurt in the locality due to frailty and bad infrastructure.
59 percent of elderly report abuse as being prevalent in Indian society.
Disrespect, verbal abuse and neglect were reported as the most common forms of abuse. Son and daughter in law are reported as the major abusers, and those other than the immediate family are major perpetrators of abuse.
46 percent of the elders were not aware of any abuse redressal mechanism.
79 percent of the respondents felt that their family do not spend enough time with them.
57 percent feel financially insecure because their expenses are exceeding their savings or income.
(June 23, 2024) It was in the spring of 2010 that the world woke up on the morning of April 20 to an environmental disaster - the largest marine oil spill in history - the Deepwater Horizon oil spill off the coast of the United States in the Gulf of Mexico. Seeing the natural disaster happening in his own backyard, was a wake-up call for the Texas-resident Karan Jerath. "The fact that it happened in my backyard woke me up to the true nature of the environmental damage this was wreaking. I had to do something about it," he said in an interview. [caption id="attachment_38357" align="aligncenter" width="450"] Karan Jerath[/caption] Still a teenager, he'd spend nine-ten hours daily researching and coming up with a device that could shut down undersea oil spills. After months of experimentation, he developed a groundbreaking device which won him $50,000 along with Intel's Young Scientist Award. The feat also led him to feature in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Energy list for inventing a device that contains oil spills at the source. A genius in the making Born in Mumbai to an artist mother and a mechanical engineer father, Karan moved to Kuala Lumpur when he
r 30 Energy list for inventing a device that contains oil spills at the source.
A genius in the making
Born in Mumbai to an artist mother and a mechanical engineer father, Karan moved to Kuala Lumpur when he was one. "Living in Malaysia and attending the International School of Kuala Lumpur, I developed as a global citizen-one who recognises the necessity of harmonising opposing perspectives and becoming accustomed to a lifestyle of contrasting cultures," he revealed. It was in 2008 that the family shifted to Friendswood in Texas, US where Karan's scientific acumen started to take shape as he became involved with the school's Science Fair program. "My engagement with this program is where I first developed an interest in engineering and sustainability issues," the Global Indianwrote on his website.
[caption id="attachment_38358" align="aligncenter" width="650"] Karan Jerath at a Science fair[/caption]
Moving to the US was an intimidating experience for Karan as they didn't know anybody in this new country. But slowly he started adjusting to the new culture and environment. But it was during his high school that he started getting interested in science and curious about new things. Science fairs turned out to be the perfect platform that allowed him to continue broadening his perspective and challenging him to solve problems with no definite solutions. They empowered Karan to both serve his local community and protect the environment on an international scale.
Finding a solution
It was in 2010 that the Deepwater Horizon oil spill happened that woke him up to the environmental crisis. "I wanted to think of a solution that addresses one of the biggest ongoing crises of the environment today, oil spills, that is systematically destroying our ocean environment. I started going to libraries and reading up on this, drawing different designs and coming up with blueprints," added Karan, who later studied at the University of Texas.
With the help of his mentor, he engineered an innovative subsea wellhead containment device capable of capturing oil and gas escaping from a blowout well, separating the substances into liquids and gases, and storing them on a surface vessel. "The device is essentially a way to divert the spill from contaminating the ocean and keep it from devastating the marine life," he added.
An advocate of STEM education, he has also participated in programs such as the HIVE Global Leaders Program at Harvard, and the MIT Global Entrepreneurship Bootcamp. "Both of these programs have allowed me to continuously diversify my experiences as a growing individual, a passionate researcher, and a contributor to society."
Karan, who served as one of the United Nations Young Leaders for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has earned many accolades in his journey which are proof that nothing is impossible where there is determination, passion, and purpose. "Through my interest in science and engineering, I realized that if you want to help change the world, it doesn’t matter how old you are, where you’re from, or how much you know. It’s my goal to empower others to be interested in science and math, to want to make a difference by discovering new things, and most importantly, to give their time and talents to a cause they care deeply about."
Karan Jerath’s innovation following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill exemplifies the transformative potential of visionary thinking in the face of environmental crises. By developing a groundbreaking device to contain oil spills at their source, Jerath not only addressed a critical challenge in oil spill management but also inspired a new generation of problem-solvers. His device, designed to capture and separate oil from the water directly at the point of leakage, represents a significant leap forward in mitigating the environmental damage caused by such disasters. His work underscores the impact that a single individual's ingenuity can have on safeguarding our planet, reinforcing the critical role of technological advancement in environmental stewardship. His legacy is a powerful reminder that with determination and innovation, even the most daunting global challenges can be met with effective and practical solutions.
(September 15, 2022) Alana Meenakshi Kolagatla was barely four when she first got the feel of the king, queen, rook, bishop, and pawn on the chess board. The child hardly had any understanding of the game, yet she was just about able to arrange the pieces in order. By the time she turned six, the chess prodigy began playing professionally. Success followed her everywhere ever since. Having won several locals, national and international championships — of which she admittedly has lost the count — Alana, now 11, has been making all the right moves. “I want to become a grandmaster as soon as possible," declares Alana Meenakshi, the World No.1 in the Under-11 girls' category, in an exclusive chat with Global Indian. [caption id="attachment_21903" align="aligncenter" width="483"] Kolagatla Alana Meenakshi, chess prodigy[/caption] Since 2018, Alana has taken the world of chess by storm with her consistent performance. She continued her winning streak with gold, silver, and bronze medals to the country's tally and went on to bag the Women Candidate Master (WCM) title when she played in Sri Lanka in 2018. “Sometimes when you're winning, you just feel you're winning and let go of it and end up losing the game
istent performance. She continued her winning streak with gold, silver, and bronze medals to the country's tally and went on to bag the Women Candidate Master (WCM) title when she played in Sri Lanka in 2018. “Sometimes when you're winning, you just feel you're winning and let go of it and end up losing the game or end up in a draw. I have never really kept track of how many games I won and lost,” informs the chess prodigy, who has travelled to Albania, China, Sri Lanka, Serbia, and Hungary among other countries for her tournaments, besides vacations. Her father, Madhu Kolagatla is a businessman, and her mother Dr Aparna Kolagatla is a scientist and a career counsellor.
A move in the right direction
The chess prodigy from Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, who was also the world No 2 in the Under-10 category (December 2022) before she made it to the top, finds chess a very lonely game. “Sometimes you feel very bored, just like you're looking at 64 squares with 32 pieces. And if you don't enjoy what's going on, you don't understand what's going on,” says the chess mastermind. But at the end of the day, she says, the combinations and the tactics in the game are what draw her towards it. “People feel that chess is very hard to play and only smart people can play the game. But that's not true. If you play chess, you will become smarter. It's actually the opposite,” smiles the class VI student of Timpany school, Visakhapatanam.
[caption id="attachment_21904" align="aligncenter" width="616"] The young prodigy with all her medals and trophies[/caption]
Alana plays chess every day. “I need to work a lot to reach a certain level. I practice for about 8 hours a day. So usually it's like four to six hours coaching and then maybe two hours games and then two hours I work by myself,” informs Alana, who occasionally takes a break from the game when she is overstressed. When it comes to tournaments, her games last up to six hours.
So what does it take to become a professional chess player like her? “Hard work, talent, and seriousness. One should be willing to work a lot, even though sometimes it gets very stressful. Strategy and confidence will keep you going in the game,” feels this huge Potterhead, who has read all Harry Potter books.
She is now trying yoga and meditation to beat the stress. “My parents recommended it and though I am trying my best for the past few weeks, it feels boring sometimes,” she laughs. Before every tournament, she makes sure to check who she is playing against, prepare against them and make note of their weaknesses and strengths.
Alana’s achievements have made her parents and friends proud of her. “It feels great when family members and friends tell others that I am an international chess player and stuff like that. Parents, sometimes say I could have done better after a particular tournament,” says the prodigy, who lists her win in her first international chess in Sri Lanka as one of the major highlights of her journey so far.
Beyond the chequered world
Besides chess, Alana likes to play tennis. "I actually play tennis just for physical fitness, go swimming, and indulge in basketball once in a while," says Alana, who likes to watch all the action stuff on Netflix.
Ask her if she comes across children who love Chess, the Vizag girl feels that people should start playing chess because it develops intellectual skills, calculations, and quick reflexes. "People don't play chess because they think it's very hard and boring, but I don't think so. There are a few people who are interested in chess, who are around my age, plus or minus a few years, but many are not," says Alana, whose elder brother Dhruv is a tennis player.
What else does Alana like to do? "Fashion designing interests me but I am not very sure. I am still in VI grade so I have another three to four more years to decide," informs the champ, who like most kids her age, loves Dario for Wimpy Kid as well. She is a huge fan of Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, and Justin Bieber as well. Alana makes it a point to visit as many places as places while on a foreign trip. Recently, she was in Budapest where she visited the castle, Parliament, and many more places to understand its history and rich culture.
"Kids should do more something creative than just watching TV or spending time on mobile phones. They should go out and play or, try some arts and crafts. Maybe, they should try learning a new thing like chess," is her message to children her age.
(January 6, 2024) Let me confess. Back in my growing-up days, if a youngster had expressed a desire to pursue a career in the gaming industry to their parents, a stern lecture would likely have followed. However, it's remarkable how much has changed in just the last five years. India has emerged as a global leader in the mobile gaming market, boasting the highest number of app downloads. A couple of years ago, the nation proudly claimed 421 million online gamers, and this figure has witnessed an impressive eight percent growth in 2023. What's intriguing is that the driving force behind this surge is not solely composed of multi-million-dollar companies, but rather young teenagers. These individuals are not just participating in the gaming scene; they are actively shaping the future of the industry. [caption id="attachment_35072" align="aligncenter" width="554"] Representative image[/caption] According to a recent survey, over 80 percent of Generation Z has engaged in computer gaming in the past year, surpassing Millennials by 50 percent. Their commitment is evident in the staggering statistic that they spend nearly 80 hours per week immersed in gaming. Some of these young Indian gamers have not only played and live-streamed their gaming sessions but have
itment is evident in the staggering statistic that they spend nearly 80 hours per week immersed in gaming. Some of these young Indian gamers have not only played and live-streamed their gaming sessions but have also garnered millions of viewers on YouTube, achieving both fame and considerable wealth.
Global Indian turns the spotlight on some of the industry's top players, highlighting how they are not only changing the game but also influencing the trajectory of the entire gaming landscape.
Akarsh Chaudhary aka Vivone
The youngest of this e-gaming army, Vivone is a seven-year-old gamer from Mumbai, who has not just participated in but also won several tournaments. The young kid began his gaming journey at four, after watching his father playing popular games such as PubG on his mobile. Having a huge following of 108K followers on Instagram and more than four lakh subscribers on his YouTube channel, Vivone has produced over 6000 live streams and videos. “I recently took part in the SkyEsports Streamers Showdown, where I played against several top gamers from across the country. I won the first prize of ₹15 lakh, even my opponents were impressed with the way I played in the tournament,” the gamer shared during an interview.
Earning an average of $6000-7000 per month through live-streaming games, Vivone is now gearing up to represent India in international tournaments. “When I started playing, I never thought I would have so many followers and subscribers. Now, my only goal is to dominate in international tournaments. Right now, I am looking for under-13 age group tournaments being organised mainly in the US, Europe, Korea, and China,” shared the young gamer.
A YouTube sensation boasting an impressive 38.2 million subscribers, initially ventured into gaming by playing smartphone titles like Clash of Clans in 2015. The gamer then transitioned to Garena Free Fire, influenced by the game's growing popularity among his friends in India. However, it wasn't until 2018 that Ajay officially launched his YouTube channel, focusing on playing and streaming computer games.
Balancing his gaming pursuits, Ajay also works as a freelance "growth hacker" in Surat. In an interview, he revealed that his initial motive for diving into gaming was simply to make friends. "I started with the intent of making friends and playing games, and I was thrilled to see three to four people joining me in watching and playing," he shared. Ajay has achieved notable success, winning several tournaments both in India and internationally.
Beyond his gaming achievements, Ajay holds the distinction of being the first individual in India to provide Hindi dubbing for an English game, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Reflecting on this accomplishment, he mentioned, "People widely accepted and engaged with that series, and I am working on more such content to stand out in the gaming market."
Recognised as one of India's premier gamers, Ujjwal has amassed a substantial following of 37.6 million on his YouTube channel. Originating from New Delhi, Ujjwal embarked on his gaming journey at a young age, fuelled by a childhood passion for video games. His inaugural gaming experience involved the classic Snow Bros, a game he first encountered at his brother’s residence. As he matured, Ujjwal's interest shifted towards the immersive world of GTA: Vice City.
Reflecting on his introduction to the open-world genre, the gamer expressed, "I hadn't played any open-world games before that, and it was a blast. The game lets you do everything from driving to fighting other people and stealing vehicles, and so much more."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKquNyI4IxY
Ujjwal's ascent to fame is credited to his captivating and dynamic storytelling style while playing games, a factor that continues to contribute to the consistent growth of his channel. Sharing his perspective, he stated, "My priority has always been to entertain the audience while playing games like GTA, and I strive to deliver unique and fresh content with each episode. Maintaining that level of creativity is the biggest challenge I face while making my videos."
A former software engineer turned prominent gamer, Xyaa has not only represented the country in numerous tournaments but has also established partnerships with major brands such as Intel, Logitech, and Loco for various events. Specialising in Valorant, Xyaa has been streaming on YouTube since 2012 - making her the first female online gamer in the country - amassing an impressive 285K subscribers. When discussing her current gaming preferences, she shared, "I am currently engrossed in CS: GO, Dota 2, H1Z1, and the Dark Souls series. However, I also have a deep affection for titles like Skyrim, the Witcher series, Rust, and Dying Light. I particularly enjoy casual streaming."
Despite her success, navigating the gaming landscape as a female hasn't been without its challenges. While Xyaa's streams enjoy significant popularity, she has encountered instances of cyberbullying. Addressing this aspect of her journey, she remarked, "There are a few haters. As a female gamer, some may feel that I do not deserve to be on this platform. Ups and downs are part of the journey, but the support from my fans far outweighs the negativity."
(November 22, 2021) How often have you watched the trans community forced into sex work, or even begging to eke out a living? Not many can step out of their comfort zone to help or even empathise with their misery. The community’s years of study and degrees often come to naught because the society is not ready to accept different gender expressions. A Marwari girl from Chennai decided to step out of her own life to find meaning for their lives. Today, she has transformed the lives of many transgender people with her initiative PeriFerry. Neelam Jain, its founder, decided to chuck her cushy investment banking job and embark on creating an inclusive world for trans people. Jain began by making education and careers accessible for the community and giving them a chance of leading respectable and equal lives. Launched in 2017, PeriFerry helps the trans community, offers training programmes, placements and conducts sensitisation programmes at corporates to promote an inclusive atmosphere. So far, Jain has helped at least 230 trans people get jobs in corporates. She is resolute about changing mindsets, and busting the stigma and misconceptions plaguing the community. Girl with a vision Interestingly, the former financial analyst
full wp-image-16378 aligncenter" src="https://www.globalindian.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/neelam1.jpg" alt="Global Indian Neelam Jain" width="1080" height="498" />
Girl with a vision
Interestingly, the former financial analyst never thought of herself as a social entrepreneur till she decided to quit her job at Goldman Sachs and take a plunge into social enterprise. Born into a Marwari business family, Jain did her Bachelors in commerce from Stella Maris College (Chennai). She landed a job at Goldman Sachs in 2014, and was one among eight chosen from a batch of 100. Moving to Bengaluru as a financial analyst inadvertently put on the path she would choose in life – helping transgenders. It was in the Garden City that she first met members of the trans community at a Pride event. “I was inspired, but like everyone else, I didn’t think too much about it,” she told Global Indian in an exclusive. “A few months later, I participated in an Analyst Impact Fund competition where we could pitch a social cause and the best pitch would be awarded $100,000 to partner with an NGO and work on it,” Neelam adds.
That was when Jain decided to create a pitch for equal opportunities for transgender. people “You could say the basic model for PeriFerry was built during that competition,” she adds. Her interactions and conversations during this time opened her eyes to how the community was one of the most neglected in India. “Investment banking didn’t seem as exciting anymore. I knew I’d be giving up a huge pay cheque, but I truly wanted to work for the transgender community,” says the 27-year-old, who featured in Forbes 30 Under 30. Incidentally, PeriFerry was inspired from the English word periphery, and Jain explains, “We see ourselves as a ferry taking people from the peripheral corners to desired destinations.”
[caption id="attachment_16382" align="aligncenter" width="849"] Neelam with her team[/caption]
In 2016, she quit her job at Goldman Sachs, moved back to Chennai and began volunteering. Along with her friend Steevez Rodriguez, a photographer who had worked extensively with Chennai’s trans community, Jain began spending time with the community, understanding their problems and challenges. By 2017, she decided to launch PeriFerry, a firm that would act as a recruitment agency for members of the transgender community. “We did look to raise funding initially, but nothing clicked. Though the initiative was applauded, nobody wanted to invest in a hitherto unheard-of plan. That was when I decided that PeriFerry would be a social organisation that would not depend on anyone for funding,” she says.
Changing the game
This inclusive objective began by launching a video on YouTube, Would Your Hire Them? which went viral. “It was our attempt to bridge the gap between the two segments of society that were so far apart. Gradually, word spread, and Trishala S and Steevez came on board. Trishala built solid relations with community members, and began training them while Steevez helped with the community network. I worked on bringing in companies to hire trans employees,” she says.
The team had no guide or yardstick to learn from. This on-the-job training enhanced their passion and vision. They basically worked from ground up to build trust in the trans community and give them an entry into the corporate world. The first couple of years were a huge learning curve for Jain herself. She did everything - Counselling, accounts, sales, marketing, etc. Soon, Nishant Agarwal came on board as a co-partner after being inspired with their vision, and he now heads the recruitment division. “In the first year, we had no revenues. We slowly began bringing in revenues by charging corporates; there was no other external funding. It took us 18 months to be able to bring in enough revenue to pay nominal salaries to four people,” says the social entrepreneur who often plays tennis, and picks up instruments which she hopes one day she will master.
Jain’s first breakthrough came when ANZ became PeriFerry’s corporate partner a year after its launch. “That was a huge win. It offered us some sort of financial stability, helped us place some trans people in respectable jobs, and basically opened up the entire corporate market. The people we placed became our representatives to corporate India,” recalls Jain.
PeriFerry has also launched a two-month residential training programme in Bengaluru to prepare the community for participation in job fairs and placement programmes. From team-building exercises and digital literacy lessons to polishing communication skills, trainees are guided through a host of courses with mentors including psychologists, HR professionals and expert speakers from various corporates. Simultaneously, Jain and her team also began conducting sensitisation programmes for employees at corporates to encourage an inclusive atmosphere.
So far, PeriFerry has placed over 230 trans people in the corporate sector in executive-level roles, admin, HR, accounts, operations to even blue-collar jobs like security and housekeeping with companies like ANZ, Accenture, Thoughtworks, Wipro and Walmart.
Neelam has also been working with the corporate sector to ensure that the trans community has access to inclusive policies - medical benefits for gender transition, infrastructure (washrooms), and also helping corporates understand why trans inclusion matters, and business implications of the movement. "The Article 377 judgement was huge, it set things rolling for us as more and more corporates warmed up to the idea of trans inclusion. Even from the trans community perspective, there is now more awareness. Their self-esteem is growing,” says Jain who is now focusing on scaling up operations.
“We’re currently placing 25 people per month in corporate jobs. From next year we hope to step it up to 50. We’re also stepping up our training capacity; right now, there is a very small population of transgenders that is corporate job ready,” she signs off.
Groundbreaking Changes: A first-person account of life before, and after PeriFerry
Ajitha Lakshmi, 24, business associate @ Accenture
"I’d always known I was different. Even as a child, I found it hard to identify with myself. My body was male, but I felt female. I come from a small tribal community in Salem district, Tamil Nadu where there was no place for this disparity. There was nobody I could speak to or express my true gender.
After engineering, I landed a job in a small company, but when my colleagues figured out that I was different, they began ridiculing me. They would tease me for being feminine and it got to a point that I quit within a month. I didn’t know where to go or what to do so I ended up staying home, jobless for over three months. But I couldn’t hold back my true self forever. I wanted to go to North India, in search of a better life, but had no money even to buy a train ticket.
A Google search led me to PeriFerry. I landed in Chennai, called Neelam, and as I waited for her at the train station, I saw trans people begging. That disturbed me. I kept travelling from Chennai to Arakonam and back in my distress. Neelam reassured me, told me to go home and wait to get into a training programme offered by PeriFerry in Bengaluru.
When she called, I packed my bags and left for Bengaluru telling my family that I had gotten a job. At the end of the programme, I landed a job at Accenture as a business operation associate and finally began my professional career in March 2020. I am now discovering equal opportunities. My colleagues are friendly and I am treated like an equal. I earn fairly well and help support my family.
Last year, I finally came out to my family. Though they found it difficult to accept, they are now beginning to come around to the idea of me being a daughter, not a son. Today, I feel like my work and talents are recognised. I can now begin climbing the corporate ladder. I want to be a corporate queen.”
Eisha Yadav[/caption]
Karan Jerath at a Science fair[/caption]
The young prodigy with all her medals and trophies[/caption]
Neelam with her team[/caption]
