From healthcare access to policy change, how Wajood elevated transgender leadership

By 2016, Basera recognized that clinical services alone couldn’t dismantle the discrimination transgender communities face. That realization led to Wajood, a dedicated transgender health and rights initiative with Alliance India. We began by hosting mobile health camps across Uttar Pradesh, offering gender-affirming care side-by-side with HIV testing and counselling. Parallel legal clinics recorded stories of bias, guided clients through complaints, and secured crucial redressal.

Over three years, Wajood documented over 500 human rights violations—from housing evictions to police harassment—and trained 150 peer advocates in storytelling, legal literacy, and strategic communication. These advocates didn’t just collect data; they led dialogues with district health authorities, successfully influencing three hospitals to adopt transgender-inclusive service protocols.

Beyond policy wins, Wajood birthed a community of confident leaders. Participants formed their own crisis response cells, ready to intervene when a transgender person faced violence or denial of care. They built alliances with local media, sharing first-person narratives that shifted public perceptions and sparked empathy.

Impact Snapshot

• 5,000+ transgender community members served
• 150 peer advocates trained
• Three district hospitals adopted trans-inclusive protocols

Wajood’s ripple effect still shows. Transgender-led advocacy has become a linchpin of Basera’s approach—proof that visibility, backed by expertise and solidarity, transforms systems.