A scheme meant to offer dignity has left thousands on the streets. Numbers reveal the gap, voices reveal the betrayal.
Even in 2026, Garima Greh remains largely an announcement. Out of the 18-21 shelter homes across the country, only 429 people are actually living in them. NGOs are on the verge of shutting down due to massive funding delays, and transgender community leaders are calling it what it is: “A betrayal.”
When a transgender person stands at a traffic signal with an outstretched hand, most people look away. A few drop a coin and receive a blessing. This exchange has continued for centuries—yet one question always stings: Where do these hands rest at night?
The government’s answer is Garima Greh (“Dignity Homes”), launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment under the SMILE (Support for Marginalized Individuals for Livelihood & Enterprise) scheme. It promises nutritious meals, medical care, vocational training, and an environment free from discrimination. The goal is simple: integration and self-reliance.
But the reality on the ground is a different story.
Scale That Betrays the Promise
There are lakhs of transgender people in India, yet according to 2025–2026 data, the reach is microscopic.
| State/UT | Number of Garima Grehs | Notes |
| Maharashtra | 3 | Highest number; reports of funding delays |
| West Bengal | 2 | Overcrowding and lack of privacy |
| Delhi (NCT) | 1 | Part of pilot rollout under SMILE |
| Rajasthan | 1 | Jaipur model noted as a positive example |
| Other States | 1 each | (GJ, BR, CG, TN, OD, KL, JH, PB, UP, MP, AS) |
The Gap: Only 429 registered residents against a population of lakhs. People are still forced to sleep on footpaths or survive in precarious ways.
Validating this crisis, the NHRC's September 2025 report titled 'Rights of transgender persons — Revamping spaces, reclaiming voices' highlights a grim reality. It reveals that persistent funding delays and 'eviction threats' have pushed several NGOs to the brink of closure, further widening the gap between the community's needs and available support.
The Policy Loopholes: Abandoning the Vulnerable
The current policy has two major "blind spots" that leave the most helpless groups on the streets:
-Children under 18: Those who run away from home due to violence are not allowed entry.
-Senior Citizens (60+): Once they are too old for traditional performances or begging, they are declared ineligible and asked to leave.
Why Residents are Choosing the Streets over "Shelter"
Many leave within 3–6 months. The reasons are systemic:
-Erasure of Culture: The centuries-old guru-chela (gharana) system has no place here. By ignoring these chosen families, the system feels like an isolation ward.
-Lack of Safety & Privacy: Most shelters are crammed into sections of old-age homes or women’s ashrams. Residents face abusive language or hostility from other groups.
-Hostile Environment: There are reports of sexual harassment by male staff. When complaints are made, the response is: “You’re getting free food—stay quiet.”
The Human Rights Perspective: More Than Just Infrastructure
-Violation of Constitutional Dignity: Reports of physical harassment and torture within these institutions are deeply alarming. When 'Dignity Homes' turn into centers of trauma, they directly violate the Right to Life and Personal Liberty under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. A shelter without safety is just another cage.
-Neglect of the Most Vulnerable: By failing to provide dedicated shelters for transgender minors, the state is overlooking the 'United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.' These children, often fleeing hostile homes, are being denied their fundamental right to protection and a safe environment.
-Structural Violence through Funding: Deliberate funding delays that lead to the closure of Garima Grehs are a form of structural violence. When the state halts financial support, it doesn't just close a building; it indirectly forces a vulnerable community back into the cycles of homelessness and exploitation.
Health & Empowerment: A 2026 Mismatch
While we talk about Digital India, the vocational training is stuck in the past—limited to tailoring and candle-making. In an era of AI and coding, this doesn't empower; it deepens marginalization.
The Medical Crisis & The TG Plus Card:
The state of medical care is perhaps the biggest failure. There is almost no arrangement for hormone therapy or gender-affirming procedures within the shelters.
-The Irony: The government introduced the TG Plus Card (under Ayushman Bharat, 2025), providing up to ₹5 lakh/year for surgeries.
-The Reality: Only about 50 cards have been distributed so far. Without a permanent address or documents, most residents can't even apply for the card. In the government’s eyes, a person without papers is not even a person.
The Economic Collapse of the Scheme
NGOs report that government funds get stuck for 14–18 months.
-Staff salaries are unpaid; electricity bills are pending.
-On paper, ₹8.25 Cr was cited in 2025, but the actual daily spending per resident is a mere ₹80–120.
-Shelters are often in remote areas to save rent, cutting residents off from job opportunities and hospitals. Transport costs then become a "prison" of their own.
Rays of Hope & The Real Question
It isn't all dark. The Jaipur Garima Greh has been noted for its family-like atmosphere, and the SMILE scheme itself represents a shift toward seeing begging as a social issue rather than a crime.
However, the core issue remains: The government wants to “fix” the community without truly seeing trans people as full human beings with their own culture.
The Garima Greh scheme was envisioned as a sanctuary of dignity, but today it stands at a crossroads of systemic neglect and human rights violations. Numbers like '429 beds' are meaningless if the individuals inside aren't safe from harassment, or if the most vulnerable—our children—are left at the door. It is time for the government to move beyond policy papers and ensure that 'Garima' (Dignity) is not just a name, but a lived reality for every transgender person in India.
Next time someone gives you blessings at a traffic light, ask yourself: Their prayers have space for us, but does our system have any real dignity left for them? This is the truth that budget documents never write down.
Data Sources:
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2163005
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2157945
https://transgender.dosje.gov.in/GarimaGreh/About
https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2209488
https://www.data.gov.in/resource/state-wise-beneficiary-under-garima-greh-shelter-home-transgender-persons-reply-unstarred
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