India’s digital revolution is transforming not only business and society but also the lives of communities that have long faced exclusion. Among these, trans people in India’s leading and emerging technology cities—Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and Coimbatore—are finding new opportunities for dignity, employment, and community through digital transformation. By taking a regionally nuanced approach, organizations like Publicis Sapient are helping to break down barriers and foster inclusion, creating a blueprint for sustainable progress in India’s most dynamic tech hubs.
Despite legal advances and growing awareness, India’s trans community—estimated at 4.8 million people—continues to face significant barriers. Studies reveal that 96% of trans people are denied jobs, and more than half have never attended school. Even in urban centers, where opportunity is most concentrated, bias and lack of access remain formidable obstacles. Yet, these same cities are at the forefront of India’s digital transformation, offering a unique platform to foster inclusion and socio-economic mobility.
Access to digital skills is a critical enabler of socio-economic mobility. In India’s tech hubs, targeted training and mentorship initiatives are equipping trans individuals with the capabilities needed to thrive in the modern workforce. Flexible, distributed work models—championed by organizations like Publicis Sapient—allow talent to be sourced from a broader range of locations, including non-traditional tech centers like Coimbatore and Pune. This approach not only broadens access to opportunity but also supports work-life balance and reduces the need for relocation, which can be especially challenging for trans people facing housing or community discrimination.
Digital platforms are more than just tools for work—they are lifelines that connect trans people to resources, support networks, and dignified employment. By designing inclusive digital experiences—such as forms that recognize diverse gender identities and safe online spaces for community engagement—organizations can help trans people access services with privacy and respect. Publicis Sapient’s commitment to digital accessibility ensures that technology is usable by all, regardless of identity or ability. As one technology leader notes, “When we make a digital experience accessible, it improves it for all audiences.”
Partnerships are key to driving real change. Publicis Sapient’s collaboration with The Humsafar Trust, India’s oldest LGBTQ organization, exemplifies how digital transformation can be harnessed for social good. The TRANScend initiative is a pioneering project focused on enhancing the socio-economic inclusion of trans people in India. By working directly with community members, TRANScend creates opportunities for education, employment, and social integration—empowering trans individuals to lead lives of dignity and respect. This initiative is part of a broader commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion that extends beyond the workplace and into the communities we serve.
Each of India’s tech hubs brings unique strengths to the movement for digital inclusion:
Organizations seeking to drive digital inclusion for trans people in India’s tech hubs can take several actionable steps:
The intersection of digital transformation and social inclusion is reshaping what’s possible for trans people in India’s tech hubs. By leveraging technology, data, and human-centered design, organizations can create a more inclusive digital future—one where trans individuals can access opportunity, achieve their potential, and thrive. At Publicis Sapient, we invite partners, clients, and individuals to join us in this mission, using digital transformation as a powerful tool for social inclusion and positive change.
Together, we can ensure that India’s digital revolution is truly for everyone—empowering trans people not just to participate, but to lead and shape the future of the nation’s most dynamic cities.