Manipal

transgender

fast food joint

After a long ordeal, the HIV+ person turns entrepreneur inA45-year-old Sanjeeva Vandse, an HIV-positive, opened aat Manipal on Tuesday. Vandse, who has been fighting for the rights of transgenders and people with AIDS, said the joint, named ‘Asare Fast Food’, will be managed by four persons, including a transgender.Vandse told Bangalore Mirror, “It has been a long and difficult journey towards opening the fast food joint. I ran from pillar to post to make this happen. At one point, I felt that I should go begging. But since I have been working for the community, I felt it was not right. I have been trying for a job for long. At this moment, I must say Udupi Deputy Commissioner Priyanka Mary Francis has been very supportive.”Vandse had two options before him: one was to work as a group D worker in the Department of Woman and Child Welfare Department and the other, work in a hospital, but Vandse was not sure if his health would permit it.“At a meeting at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office, I was told that there was no provision to allow shops on the stretch, and I requested the DC to consider this as a special case. Initially, the Udupi municipality was willing to offer me a place for the joint at a location where there was no people movement, but I did not want the same. I have struggled a lot to reach here. My elder brother too is unwell. I have managed to build a house with the support and help of lot of people, but I needed a job to sustain. Since I was honoured with the district Rajyotsava Award, I felt that I should be a role model to society and that I should continue my fight and set an example,” Vandse said.A share of the profits will go for the education, food and nutrition needs of HIV+ children. Vandse has taken Rs 1 lakh loan to set up the joint. Besides, Vandse managed to get Rs 20,000 from the Department of Women and Child Welfare.For the time being, the joint offers, idli vada, buns, puri and pulav for breakfast; ghee rice and kebabs for lunch, and pakodas and bondas in the evening along with tea and coffee. Once they get permission and the joint gets power connection, Vandse plans to buy a fridge for cold drinks and if his business clicks, hopes to introduce noodles in the menu in the evening. Sanjeeva has also set up Asare Trust which is working for the HIV+ and the physically challenged. Jayashree Bhat, a psychologist and social worker, is the honorary president of the trust. Vandse said, “I work for the welfare of HIV+ and transgenders in the district and hence travel a lot.We are hoping that the business will stabilise and hopefully have many more outlets by those in need.”