Transgender Community Pedals To Promote Non-Motorised Transport In Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: A cyclothon of transgenders was organised between Ekamra Kshetra Plaza near Sishu Bhawan Square and Temple Plaza near Ram Mandir Square here on Sunday to promote non-motorised transport (NMT) and cycling across Smart City.

More than 50 people from the transgender community participated in the event. Odia TV actor and social worker Russy Patnaik also joined as a guest and encouraged the participants.

“We always believe in inclusiveness. While the self-help groups (SHGs) of transgender communities have been given the responsibility of manning the parking spaces, their participation today in the cyclothon has again proved that we are going to include all socially disadvantageous groups in our citizen-centric activities and planning,” said Managing Director and CEO of Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited Sanjay Kumar Singh.

, the event was sponsored by Khimji Foundation. Members of SAKHA, a community-based organisation of transgenders actively participated in the event with great enthusiasm under the leadership of Meera Parida. Well-known Odia TV actor and social worker Russy Patnaik also joined as a guest and encouraged the participants.

As part of its citizen-centric planning based on the Smart City Proposal, the Bhubaneswar Smart City Limited (BSCL) has developed facilities for cycles and pedestrian ways in the Odisha capital. The objective: Allow citizens to breathe in fresh air with a minimal load of pollutants and particulate matter. The city has relied on its NMT planning to make it more citizen-friendly.

“We have always participated in the pan-city events including Patha Utsav, promoting NMT philosophy, in the past.’’ said social activist and co-organiser Meera Parida.

In July this year, the City of Temples featured among 11 cities in India Cycles4Change Challenge Stage-1 Award. All these cities will receive Rs 1 crore each to scale up their cycling events in their respective cities.