A venture on culinary enterpreneurs

Diana Potsangbam
Socio-economic vulnerability remains dispropor- tionately high among the transman community in North-East India. Often exacerbated by ongoing re- gional instabilities and systematic discrimination in traditional job markets. With the objective of enhancing livelihood opportu- nities and to learn entrepreneurial skills in culinary techniques and business. From June 8 to June 12, 2026, a training programme on Intensive Skill Training for young LGBTQ+ food-entrepreneurs from Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and West Bengal was hosted by Institute of Hotel Management (IHM) Kolkata, and Bridge, India. The main important reason was to celebrate empowerment, diversity and inclusion for LGBTQ+ youth from the Indian States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur and West Bengal. The day marked the culmination of a five-day Intensive Training on Food Production for this team of twenty-one young LGBTQ+ food business micro-entrepreneurs, both existing and aspiring, from these east and North Eastern States.
The All Transmen Association (ATMA), Manipur also took part in this training programme. Oppor- tunity once in a lifetime, it was really an immense pleasure, a great venture/journey that the organisers had given the chance to this tremendous and exciting experiences of life. The training aimed to equip the youth with skills and tools to help move forward with their food business ideas and ultimately strengthen livelihood and economic opportunities for margina-lised LGBTQ+ community members.
The training programme balance the intensive, hands-on kitchen training with classroom based conceptual business develop- ment sessions included both hands-on food production sessions on different kinds of cuisines, as well as theoretical classes on subjects like ethics in food production, hygiene and safety, food safety & standards, kitchen management, etc. from the expert team at IHM Kolkata.
It also included an exposure visit to the ITC Royal Bengal, Kolkata, and a special session on Entrepre- neurial Awareness and Business Idea Validation conducted by experts from Tata Strive. The training provided the young LGBTQ+ community members mostly hailing from remote parts of the region, with a unique opportunity to learn from industry experts to enhance their skills and entrepreneurial ideas, as well as a valuable networking opportunity which will go a long way to strengthen their future career paths.
All twenty-one trainees were awarded completion certificates during the Valedictory Session on June 12, 2026, in the presence of dignitaries like Mr Pranav Prakash, Regional Director (East), Kolkata Regional Office, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Mr. Raja Sadhukhan, Principal, IHM Kolkata, Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, and Mr. Ayan Halder, Hotel Manager, Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. The event was also attended by Mr. Prithviraj Nath, Founder Director, Bridge, and Ms. Mahua Seth, Co-Founder, Rainbow Room Kolkata, who put together this training in collaboration with the IHM Kolkata Team, Mr. Kaushik Banerjee, Chairman, ETAA, Eastern Region, and key members of the IHM Kolkata team including Mr. Ashok Kumar Prasad, Mr. Saurabh Haldar, Ms. Kritika Bose Guha, Mr. Aalekhya Adhikary, and others.
ATMA, Manipur gains from the training programme, that it enabled exposure to new skills, networking opportunities, innovation business ideas that can be adapted in Manipur. The training also strengthened participants’ confidence and capacity to pursue self-employment and contributor to the economic empowerment of the transman community in Manipur. At the end ATMA, Manipur expresses its gratitude to the organisers for providing an inclusive learning platform and remains committed to promoting skill development, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods for transman community in Manipur.

The writer is  Founder/All Transman Association, Manipur (ATMA).