Modern Awareness Society (MAS) began its journey in the year 2004 to amplify the voices of the Transgender, Hijra, Gay and Shivshakti community in Warangal district of Andhra Pradesh. Driven by our own experiences of being discriminated against and having faced violence, we came together and registered a community-based organization under the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act 35 of 2001 with the aim to provide a better, safer and more possible life for our community members, free from stigma and violence.
The transgender community has historically been marginalized and discriminated against socially, economically, culturally and politically. Due to ridicule, abuse and violence faced from family and society, the community members often leave their families during childhood or their teen years, if not abandoned by them.
A large majority of them, due to lack of education and in the absence of any formal degree or learnt skills, often resort to sex work or begging. In addition to violence, sex work also increases the vulnerability of the community members to HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases (STIs). The social and systematic exclusion faced by the community makes good healthcare inaccessible to them.
Since its inception, MAS has been persistently advocating for the rights of the transgender community through mobilization and advocacy at various district and state level forums. We have conducted numerous workshops and organized rallies to generate awareness and sensitize the key stakeholders – district authorities, municipal corporations, govt. departments, political parties, media, other NGOs, public, etc., concerning the issues faced by the community members. In addition to addressing violence and better health care, we also focused on facilitating access to social entitlements, welfare schemes and initiatives aimed at skill building and livelihood.
Currently, MAS is governed by 11 members from the community and is providing various services to its registered population of 2400+ members in 6 recently divided districts of Warangal – Warangal, Hanamkonda, Jangaon, Mahabubabad, Mulugu and Bhupalpally
MAS is affiliated to Integrated Network for Sexual Minorities (INFOSEM), Hyderabad.
(For reading convenience, the term ‘transgender’ or ‘community’ is being used to refer to MAS’s target population consisting of transgender, hijra, gay and shivshakti community.)