Ms. Meera Parida

Meera Parida is a trans social Activist, Politician & an Entrepreneur based in Odisha. Meera has been a formidable figure in the LGBTQ+ movement in Odisha. She is a part of the National Transgender Council established under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and a political leader for the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) in Odisha. Meera is currently serving as the Chairman of All Odisha Third Gender Welfare Trust, Bhubaneswar. She is also the treasurer & Co-Founder of SAKHA-first, a LGBTQ+ community-based organization in Odisha, India. She has won several accolades for her work in protecting the rights of marginalised groups who are vulnerable to HIV and AIDS across the country, including the Best Transgender Leader in India award by UNDP, NACO and HIV Alliance in 2016.

She was appointed the first Transgender Vice President of Biju Mahila Janta Dal by Odisha Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik in 2019.​ She had written two books, ‘Andhar Ra Aalingan’ and ‘Bhirn Ek Saabitri’ which deal with the rights of her community.