Cine Artist and former MP, Sri. Suresh Gopi pledged his support to the transgender community by funding gender reassignment surgeries. Through the Lakshmi Charitable Trust, the actor has committed twelve lakh rupees, enabling ten individuals to undergo the surgery, each costing one lakh twenty thousand rupees. Additionally, once the government reimburses this amount, ten more people will have the opportunity to undergo the surgery.
The ceremony began with Swami Poornamritananda Puri, General Secretary of Mata Amritanandamayi Math, lighting the Bhadradeepam. Dr. Sundeep Vijayaraghavan, Head, Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, delivered the welcome address. The keynote address was given by Uttam Kumar Bhaskaran, Chairman, Pratheeksha Foundation, Mumbai. Sri. Suresh Gopi handed over the consent letter to Dr. Pratapan Nair, Senior Medical Administrator, Amrita Hospital, Kochi.
In his speech, Sri. Suresh Gopi expressed his desire for the funds to be used for the rehabilitation of the transgender community. He also assured that if there are delays in the government reimbursement, he is willing to provide an equivalent amount within three months.
The event also included speeches from Adreja, a beneficiary of the project, and Prof. Dr. Subramania Iyer, Chairman, Department of Plastic Surgery. Swami Poornamritananda Puri honored Sri. Suresh Gopi, and transgender activist Athithi delivered the vote of thanks.
