
In a country where trans and queer individuals often face systemic exclusion from education, employment, and housing, the Keshav Suri Foundation (KSF) is stepping in—not with charity, but with dignified opportunity. Through hospitality training, job fairs, corporate sensitization, and policy advocacy, KSF is quietly building a pipeline of inclusion. Here’s how they’re making it happen.
Hospitality Training that Leads to Real Jobs
At the heart of KSF’s mission lies skill development with guaranteed dignity. In partnership with the TWEET Foundation and The LaLiT Suri Hospitality Group, KSF runs 6-month on-the-job training programs tailored for transgender individuals.
Key Highlights:
- Training across hotel verticals: kitchen, front desk, housekeeping, laundry
- Paid stipends + mentorship from senior staff
- Direct job placement within the LaLiT hotel ecosystem
This isn’t just vocational training—it’s a pathway to stable employment and self-respect.
“My confidence grew with each guest I served,” shared one graduate of the program.
Trans Employment Melas: Breaking Hiring Bias at Scale
Recognizing the barriers trans individuals face in mainstream hiring, KSF co-organizes the Trans Employment Mela—India’s most visible queer job fair.
- In 2024, over 77 transgender individuals secured roles across 20+ corporates
- 2025 aims to place 100+ candidates with inclusive employers
- Supported by private companies and local governments
By bringing employers and trans candidates under one roof, these melas are tackling stigma with scale and structure.
Corporate Sensitization: Shaping Truly Inclusive Workplaces
Inclusion doesn’t end with a job offer—it starts with mindset.
KSF runs workplace sensitization sessions that:
- Educate HR teams, senior management, and recruiters
- Cover key gender terms, unconscious bias, and inclusive language
- Feature drag performers and trans facilitators as trainers
These programs have been delivered to:
- The LaLiT Hotels
- Roop Automobiles
- Condé Nast
- MyGlamm, and more
The result? Workplaces that don’t just hire, but also honor diversity.
Creative Confidence: Workshops & Queer Leadership Camps
KSF believes visibility begins with voice—and their TRANSaction program is proof.
Programs include:
- Free acting and storytelling workshops
- Queer art showcases and digital campaigns
- Leadership conclaves to build peer networks and advocacy capacity
These community-driven events provide a safe space for expression, connection, and healing—building personal agency, one story at a time.
Legal Advocacy & Systemic Policy Change
Beyond skills and placement, KSF plays a crucial role in India’s broader queer rights ecosystem.
With partners like the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy, KSF:
- Drafts policy frameworks on housing, healthcare, and workplace protections
- Advocates for the inclusion of gender-diverse individuals in corporate DEI strategies
- Pushes for implementation of Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act
“Without legal protection, no inclusion is permanent,” says Keshav Suri, the Foundation’s founder.
About Keshav Suri: Championing Change from the Boardroom to the Ballroom
Founder of KSF and Executive Director of The LaLiT Group, Keshav Suri is one of India’s most outspoken corporate voices for LGBTQ+ rights.
- Chairs the India chapter of IGLTA (International LGBTQ+ Travel Association)
- Spearheaded the introduction of trans-inclusive policies within The LaLiT’s HR
- Regularly partners with civil society to amplify queer representation in business and media
“Inclusion isn’t a checkbox—it’s a commitment. And it begins at the top,” Suri has said in multiple interviews.
Impact Snapshot
Initiative | Purpose | Outcome |
---|---|---|
Hospitality Training | Skills + job placement | 6-month stipend training with placements |
Trans Employment Mela | Inclusive hiring | 77 hires in 2024; 100+ targeted in 2025 |
Corporate Sensitization | Culture change | 15+ companies trained; expanding rapidly |
TRANSaction Workshop | Visibility & confidence | Queer individuals trained in storytelling |
Legal Advocacy | Policy protections | Engagement with Vidhi Centre, government |
Why the KSF Model Works
The Keshav Suri Foundation isn’t just checking off diversity metrics—it’s building a full-circle inclusion model:
- Training: Practical, industry-ready skills
- Placement: Dignified jobs through direct hiring and job fairs
- Sensitization: Ensuring a welcoming workplace culture
- Advocacy: Fixing the system that marginalizes trans lives
- Empowerment: Giving the community tools to lead
This integrated approach creates not just jobs—but ladders of economic and emotional security for India’s transgender and queer population.
Final Thoughts
Inclusion isn’t about logos, hashtags, or rainbow filters. It’s about livelihoods, laws, and lasting dignity.
The Keshav Suri Foundation proves that when corporations partner with communities, transformation is possible—from street to suite, from margin to mainstream.
Whether you’re an HR leader, policymaker, or citizen—there’s something to learn from the KSF model.
FAQs
Q: Can individuals from outside metro cities apply to KSF programs?
Yes! KSF works across urban and semi-urban areas, with select travel and lodging support.
Q: Are companies outside hospitality involved in hiring?
Absolutely—recent melas featured logistics, fashion, retail, and creative industries.
Q: How can I support KSF?
Donate, collaborate as an employer, or amplify their work on social media.
Q: Is there a directory of inclusive employers?
KSF is working to build a verified list—stay tuned via their website.
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