Shilpa, Sanjeevani and Ankit who belong to India's transgender and gay community have found a respectable way out of their shadowed existence, to earn a living and make their presence felt giving Mumbai a ride in Wings Rainbow — the country's first LGBT powered radio cab service, launched by a mainstream travel company on Wednesday as an empowerment initiative.

The initiative by Wings Travels and Humsafar Trust will have taxis chauffeured by LGBT community members, and is expected to start functioning in 2017.

On Wednesday, five volunteers from The Humsafar Trust, an LGBT rights organisation, signed up to drive radio cabs.

Under the pilot programme, five members of the gay and transgender community will apply for a learner’s licence, and complete their training in getting the All India Driver’s Licence.

During the nine to 12 months it takes to get the permanent driving licences, they will also undergo customer etiquette training.

As the legal tide continues to turn and gay debates move from the personal to the professional, this programme could be a shot in the arm for the community that offers real opportunities for dignified livelihood and makes corporate India more embracing of gender non-conformists.