In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Pernod Ricard India Foundation has tied up with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences for a corporate fellowship program meant for transgender persons.

The tie-up, which also involves the Collective Good Foundation (CGF), will pave the way for transpersons to chart out their journey in the corporate world.

The fellowship aims to remove barriers the community faces – be it in education or jobs—as these hurdles limit them to menial jobs. News reports said under the program, transpersons will receive adequate training and exposure to transform them to take on managerial and higher-up positions on the corporate ladder. Those in the 18-25 years age group can apply for the program as there is no higher education bar for the applicants. These applicants will be shortlisted following an online process and will have a round of group discussions and personal interviews. The first batch of 20 fellows aims to start on July 1. Applications for the one-year fellowship that is open now will close on April 30.

Zainab Patel, Lead – Inclusion, and Diversity at Pernod Ricard India, says, “The world is an especially difficult place for transpersons who face constant biases and are never judged based on their talent. It is very important to create an inclusive culture where people from all social strata and gender identities feel like they belong, and the first step is equitable education. This will create the cornerstone for transpersons to find gainful employment – a thought that is firmly embedded in PRI’s ethos and its commitment to people, the planet, and communities. We strongly believe in investing in and nurturing gender agnostic talent pools to truly harness the power of human capabilities and connection and this program is a step towards building an ecosystem of equal work opportunities for transpersons.”