{
  "id": 8642200,
  "title": "Against All Odds | From begging in Pune to studying law: Vaidehi Wadekar’s fight for dignity",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/against-all-odds-from-begging-in-pune-to-studying-law-vaidehi",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T07:56:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/vaidehi-wadekar-pune-transgender-security-guard-law-student-10886042/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Vaidehi Wadekar, transgender woman, begged on Pune streets as child.",
    "Pursued BTech in Nagpur, left due to bullying and lack of acceptance.",
    "Now works as PMC security guard, studies law at SNBP College."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}