Mumbai: Beach Please, a clean-up drive initiated by Malhar Kalambe, organised a special drive for the tenth week of Mithi river clean-up drive with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer (LGBTQ) community on Sunday. The clean-up took place at Mahim creek with around 200 volunteers from different colleges. The NSS teams of VSIT, VIT & K.P.B Hinduja College helped remove around three tonnes of garbage on this day alone.
Shreegauri Sawant, the first petitioner for transgender rights in Supreme Court in 2014 and the founder of ‘Aaji Cha Ghar’ – a safe house for the abandoned girl children and senior transgenders – was part of this clean-up drive. She was accompanied by Ganesh Solanki and Swara Gawli, active members of ‘Aajjiiche Ghar’ and work for the rights of transgenders and their hygiene issues, along with other young volunteers.
“The society has treated us like trash all these years and here’s this boy (Malhar) inviting me as a chief guest. I realised that it is important for me to contribute to the cause as a citizen of this country. I didn’t know how I would do this task when I arrived here but enthusiasm and energy of these kids just made it seem so simple. I am really thankful of the entire team! Great job!” Sawant said.
