DELHI, Feb 20 (IPS) – Pyari Hessa, 26, combines long shifts as a deputy traffic controller at a steel company in Jamshedpur with evening football training on the same grounds where professionals train.
A trans woman from the Ho tribal community, she was born as Pyare Lal in Bedamundui, a remote village 50 kilometers away from Chaibasa, the main town of West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand. For years, she fought against family expectations and societal norms for the right to live authentically and simply be seen as a person.
Today, as captain and forward of Jamshedpur FT (football team) in India’s first-ever football tournament dedicated to transgender women, the Transgender Football League, her struggle for acceptance finds powerful expression on the field.
Launched on December 7, 2025 under the Jamshedpur Super League (JSL) by Jamshedpur Football Club (FC), this pioneering eight-team tournament brings together around 70 transgender women, many of whom hail from Santhal, Ho and other local tribal communities. The competition, which will be held on the artificial turf field of the JRD Tata Sports Complex, will feature a fast-paced seven-a-side format.
The players come from different walks of life; some are factory workers, daily wage workers, stage performers, e-rickshaw drivers and more, from areas like Chaibasa, Chakradharpur, Noamundi, Saraikela and beyond, struggling not just for causes but also for visibility, dignity and a real sense of belonging. In this space, they are celebrated for their skills, passion and teamwork, transcending societal barriers and redefining inclusion through sport.
Kundan Chandra, Head of Grassroots and Youth Football at Jamshedpur FC, explains the club’s thinking.
“The introduction of the Transgender Football League marks a progressive and meaningful step in our commitment to making football inclusive, accessible and empowering for every individual. As a club, we strongly believe that football should serve as a platform where talent is nurtured without discrimination.”
For players like Pyari Hessa, that belief is no longer just words. “When I play football, it gives me immense happiness and recognition. The game gives me the opportunity to rise above my gender identity. It gives me a platform,” says Pyari.
Life was not easy for her, neither at home nor during her search for a stable job.
She has completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, lost her father at a young age and now lives with her mother in Jamshedpur, far from her ancestral village. Before she got a job, she did odd jobs as a daily wage worker to make ends meet. She eventually found work in the logistics department of one of India’s largest steel manufacturers, where she conducted targeted recruitment for underrepresented groups.
Her tribal identity deeply influences her life, but as a trans woman she faces even more hardships. Traditional tribal communities in Jharkhand, rooted in customs, nature worship and social norms, often do not accept transgender individuals with the respect they deserve, leading to exclusion, stigma and limited family or community support.
Jharkhand is home to more than 30 indigenous tribes. The culture and social position of transgender people within the tribal (Adivasi) communities here are complex and generally characterized by limited traditional recognition or acceptance.
Travel from village to campsite
“I started playing football at the age of 10, just like every other boy in my village. We kicked plastic balls around on the village ground, just for fun, nothing more,” says Pyari. “When I was in college, I met people from the trans community playing in charity and exhibition matches around Chaibasa. That’s when I realized that football wasn’t just a game for me anymore; it gave me a reason to continue and grow.”
“At those local games, the winning transgender team received money and was honored. Before each game, the organizers announced to the crowd: ‘Don’t make gender comments, don’t disturb the players – give them the respect they deserve.’ When I heard that, it felt like a small victory.”
Pyari shares these memories with a quiet pride. After winning her match on January 25, her team triumphed 4-1 against Chaibasa FC.
According to coach Sukhlal Bhumij, who trains Pyari and the other team members, “Trans matches are being played between eight teams, and that happens every Sunday and should be over by April.”
Love for the game
Football enjoys a passionate and deep-rooted following in Jharkhand, especially among the tribal communities. In rural villages, children play barefoot in open areas from an early age, making it an everyday part of life and culture. While cricket remains popular, football at the grassroots level is thriving through local tournaments and has gained further momentum with Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League, where fan groups proudly celebrate tribal identity, explains Bhumij, a C-License coach of the All India Football Federation (AIFF).
The sport also empowers many people, especially tribal girls and transgender players, transforming village fields into powerful spaces of pride, inclusivity and social change.
In districts like West Singhbhum, informal transgender exhibitions and charity competitions have long been organized by village committees and community groups, often as one-off events, charity fundraisers or as part of local tournaments to promote visibility and respect.
Puja Soy, one of the league’s highest scorers with seven goals from six games, says football is finally giving her community real recognition. The 23-year-old Jamshedpur FT standout, a professional stage dancer who has completed her Class 10 education, now lives independently in Jamshedpur. Born as Shoray Soy, she moved away from her parents in DiriGoda village for her higher education and a better life.
Sharing the harsh reality she faces off the field, Puja says, “No apartment owner wants to rent out houses to people from our community.” Even finding this place was a struggle.” She currently shares a one-room apartment with another trans woman in Jamshedpur.
Jharkhand is aligning its transgender policy with India’s Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, which allows individuals to self-identify as the third gender and obtain an identity certificate without mandatory medical proof. Key benefits include inclusion in the OBC category for reservation in education and government, a monthly pension of ₹1,000 (approximately USD 10), dedicated transgender OPDs in government hospitals for care without discrimination, and access to schemes such as Ayushman Bharat health insurance, scholarships, skill development programs and shelter support. The state has also established a Transgender Welfare Board and a Support Unit to facilitate implementation.
However, community members say the reality on the ground differs greatly from what is on paper. Despite these provisions, transgender women often miss out on job opportunities. To survive, many resort to begging at traffic lights or highway toll plazas, while others turn to sex work. One player from the league said on condition of anonymity that she plays football in her spare time, but because she has no work, she often stands at highway toll booths or traffic lights to beg passers-by.
Transgender begging has become a common occurrence on Indian streets and markets – so normalized that society has largely accepted it as inevitable, even as progressive policies promise a different future.
Freedom on the field
Back at the training ground of the JRD Tata Sports Complex, Pyari is ready for the evening session. Shoes tied, ball at her feet, she looks focused.
“Because of my shift work, I can’t come to practice every day,” she says with a small smile. “But when my shift ends in the late afternoon, I make sure I come here. I feel free here.”
As Pyari starts to dribble and the ball moves smoothly across the grass, it feels like more than just football. With every touch and turn, she combines her work, her life as a trans woman, her tribal roots and her dreams, all in perfect rhythm, just like the way she controls the ball. Everything seems to be right in this area.
IPS UN office report
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