Kolkata NGO Launches Pan-India Online Locator For Queer-Friendly Resources

A Kolkata-based gender and sexuality, non-profit organisation called Varta Trust launched its Online Locator for LGBTQ+ resources. The locator works across India and helps people find queer-friendly resources, and has tied up with Grindr For Equality, Los Angeles, USA and SAATHII, Chennai, India.

This convenient online locator can help one search services by geographic location (state, city, town), service category, as well as by queer subsections. Varta Trust aims to help the queer community by making resources accessible to them, without any discrimination or shame.

“Anti-discrimination for queer individuals across inter-nationality is the aim of Varta”, said Pawan Dhall, Varta’s website editor.

Varta Trust is also promoting economic independence for the community. “We have set up a mentoring forum in eastern and north eastern India for people who are looking for jobs, skill development, higher education and entrepreneurship”, Dhall said.,

One can also look for Covid-19 resources, as an LGTBTQ+ person. “Even if it is dormant at this stage, its devastating socio-economic and health impact on transgender and queer lives is still being felt and will continue to be felt. Such an online help finder was badly needed. What if there's a fourth wave of the pandemic? Queer people need to be smarter next time around and be prepared with the information on where to access help,” Dhall said

“These include not just Covid-19 testing and vaccination support, but also access to quarantine centres, dry rations, community kitchens, emergency shelter, legal aid, and even livelihood guidance, STI/HIV treatment and mobile phone recharges. These are the challenges that queer people have faced because of the pandemic and lockdowns, and we wanted to make sure our research tools captured information on as many of them as possible,” he added.

The Varta Trust currently has 26 people they are working with.