Exclusion of Transgender from Microfinance Market: Field Study from Odisha, India

The role and importance of microfinance for reducing gender gap through the empowerment of women is well recognised in the academic research as well as public policy. But, the essence of microcredit for another socially stigmatised and excluded gender group (transgender) has been neglected in academic research. Considering this gap in the literature, the researchers conducted a survey in two cities (Cuttack and Bhubaneswar) of Odisha to know the availability and usability of financial facilities from Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) among the Odisha transgender people. Through this study, the researchers attempt to address the status and significance of microfinance for the transgender people of Odisha. This study finds that the accessibility and usability of MFIs and SHGs by the transgender people in Odisha are very less. The study recommends that the provision of easy and adequate microcredit to the transgender people can be an eye-catching policy initiative for the empowerment of transgender people.