Varta Trust promotes dialogue and understanding on gender and sexuality as issues intimate and integral to human development in India. We look at gender and sexuality through the prism of intersections with age, class, caste, religion, race, marital status, geographical location, sexual and reproductive health, HIV, disability, mental health, education, livelihood, social security, environment and human rights. Varta Trust aims to publish multi-format and mutli-lingual publications for mass audiences as platforms for dialogue on gender and sexuality. The “Varta” webzine (in a blog format till July 2016) is the first of these publications. Our publishing work is complemented by activities around awareness generation through public events, referrals to services, training, social research, and policy, legal, economic inclusion and media advocacy on gender and sexuality. Currently, a group of 31 people from the fields of journalism, social work, social and biomedical research, human rights and law, public health, academics, art, information technology, engineering, business, financial management and queer community mobilization forms the larger Varta team. As a registered trust, Varta is led by a five-member Board of Trustees consisting of Dr. Srabasti Majumdar (Chairperson), Pawan Dhall (Secretary and Managing Trustee), Kaushik Gupta (Treasurer), Madhuja Nandi, and Susanta Pramanik. The first meeting of Varta as a voluntary group was held on June 3, 2012 in Kolkata, and the “Varta” blog started on August 1, 2013. Varta was registered as a trust on May 14, 2014 with the ADSR Sealdah, District South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, with number IV - 00322 of 2014. We are also registered with the Income Tax Department with unique registration no. AABTV9002A25KL01 under Section 12A of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Email: [email protected]
Email for raising a complaint of sexual harassment: [email protected] – read our Policy for Prevention of Sexual Harassment Against All Persons here: https://vartagensex.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/03e-Varta-Trust-POSH-Policy-Vrsn-Jun-2025.pdf. All sexual harassment complaints will be addressed by the Grievance Redressal Committee, which includes Srimoyee Mukherjee, Committee Head; Swati Das, Member; and Mahua Seth, External Member
Email for reporting other risks, concerns, and complaints: [email protected]. Complaints Officers in relation to Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019: Dr. Srabasti Majumdar and Pawan Dhall
Website (and webzine): www.vartagensex.org
Blog address: http://varta2013.blogspot.in
Blog and website editor: Pawan Dhall
Please also visit Queer Friendly Lawyers Network - West Bengal Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/qfln.westbengal
YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/
Telegram channel: t.me/vartatrust
Instagram account: www.instagram.com/vartatrust
The moderators of this page are members of the larger Varta team. Varta Trust acknowledges the support provided by all its well-wishers (individuals and organizations), whether moral, in terms of ideas, or in the form of resources – you know who you are. Credit for Varta logos used in profile and cover pictures: Rudra Kishore Mandal
