Journal of Exclusion Studies Vol. 8, No. 1, February 2018, 53-59 DOI: 10.5958/2231-4555.2017.00016.X Indianjournals.com 53 Research Article IndianJournals.com A product of Diva Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. Exclusion of Transgender from Microfinance Market: Field Study from Odisha, India Rajesh Barik 1 * and Pritee Sharma 2 1 PhD Scholar, 2 Associate Professor, Discipline of Economics, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Simrol, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, India *Corresponding author email id: rajeshbarik195@gmail.com Date of Submission: 31/01/2017; Date of Acceptance: 09/06/2017 ABSTRACT The role and importance of microfinance for reducing gender gap through the empowerment of women is well recognised in the academic research as well as public policy. But, the essence of microcredit for another socially stigmatised and excluded gender group (transgender) has been neglected in academic research. Considering this gap in the literature, the researchers conducted a survey in two cities (Cuttack and Bhubaneswar) of Odisha to know the availability and usability of financial facilities from Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) among the Odisha transgender people. Through this study, the researchers attempt to address the status and significance of microfinance for the transgender people of Odisha. This study finds that the accessibility and usability of MFIs and SHGs by the transgender people in Odisha are very less. The study recommends that the provision of easy and adequate microcredit to the transgender people can be an eye-catching policy initiative for the empowerment of transgender people. Keywords: Microfinance, Self-help group, Transgender, Odisha, Gender equality INTRODUCTION When we talk about gender equality, it is essential to recognise the essence of the topic from all gender groups. Lagging behind any gender groups from the