This kind of untouchability, based on both her caste and gender identity, caused her to attempt suicide and give up on the idea of finishing school.

[6] Banu was the first transgender person to be admitted to an engineering college in the state of Tamil Nadu, which she obtained through counselling at Anna University.

[8] Responding to a call for help, a local businessman launched an online campaign raising funds for her to complete the course.

[12] She filed a right to Information (RTI) to find out if Anna University accepted transgender students.

[7] Banu is the founder and director of Trans Rights Now Collective which centers on the Dalit caste, Bahujan political party, and Adivasi population.

[13][14] Banu organized protests and began a legal process to give transgender people the opportunity to participate in Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) recruitment exams.

This was awarded by the Tamil Nadu government and organized by the Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Department.

[17] Banu started two online fundraising campaigns during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide food assistance to trans people, including one intended for performers and folk artistes.

[19] Banu believes that ultimately reservation, dedicated places for members of different groups, is key to the uplift of transgender people.

She believes that Dalits can be transphobic and that the transgender community replicates structures of caste privilege.

Despite being pressed, upper-caste transgender women dominate all the positions of leadership, call the shots and define the needs for the whole community.