'It is the only state to have a transgender welfare board and have separate budgetary allocations for this community over the past three years,' Bai said.

Further, the observance of 'Aravanigal Dinam' or 'Transgenders' Day' on Jan 18 every year has bridged the divide between the community and society to a large extent.

Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MP from the state who was present at the event, added: 'If they (sex workers and transgenders) are on the streets, we have to ask why. It is only by accepting them into our families and our homes can we truly think of giving them a better life'.

The TAI-Voluntary Health Services project is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Avahan programme that has been working on the issue of HIV since April 2004.