Transwomen from Tuticorin, Namakkalbag state award

Madurai: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin presented the Best Transgender Person Award 2025 to K Ponni of Tuticorin and A Revathi of Namakkal on the occasion of the National Transgender Day on Tuesday. Ponni was recognised for her hard work in the field of arts and education while Revathi inspired and encouraged other transgender people through social work. The award comprised citations and Rs 50,000 each.Stalin highlighted that the state govt had launched several schemes for the welfare and upliftment of transgender people. Their welfare remained a priority for the govt, he said. In a social media post, the CM stated that former chief minister M Karunanidhi was the first in the country to establish a Transgender Welfare Board to support transgender people. "Our Dravida model govt is now taking it to the next levels by providing free bus travel, financial support for higher studies for transgender people and by making them inclusive in the ‘Pudhumai Penn' scheme, among others," he said.At a special event in Madurai on Tuesday, 10 transgender people who were pursuing higher education at various levels such as diploma, UG degrees and PhD were honoured and given educational assistance. They hail from Madurai, Coimbatore, Cuddalore, Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts. The event was presided over by K Thilagam, district social welfare officer, Madurai. Priya Babu, founder and director of Transgender Resource Centre, Madurai, said that more and more transgender people were keen on pursuing education but often required more support. The participating transgender people stressed the need for hostels for them, which would give them accommodation as they pursued higher studies or took up jobs since a major hurdle they faced was isolation from family.