Against All Odds | From begging in Pune to studying law: Vaidehi Wadekar’s fight for dignity

Vaidehi Wadekar, a transgender woman, began her journey begging on the streets of Pune to survive. Born in Nagpur, she pursued a BTech degree but left due to relentless bullying and lack of acceptance. Desperate for a different life, Wadekar arrived in Pune with no stable income or support, forced to beg on the streets and outside shops.

She desperately wanted to be a woman and not a beggar, yearning for a reality that acknowledged her true identity. Through a connection with an NGO, Wadekar secured a job at an MNC where she climbed the ranks to become a team leader. However, when the administration changed, the company lost its sensitivity towards creating an inclusive environment for transgender and LGBTQ+ employees, leading Wadekar to resign and pursue her dreams.

Today, she works as a security guard for the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and studies law at SNBP College in Pimpri-Chinchwad. Beyond her job, Wadekar actively supports transgender rights by collaborating with the Pune police on education initiatives for the community and educating society at large, turning her former struggles into a source of empowerment.