Gender equality: Chhattisgarh takes the 1st ‘noble’ step to recruit transgenders in police

The Chhattisgarh government has decided to recruit transgenders in the police force.

Raipur, May 5: When we talk about gender equality often our discourse is limited to giving equal rights to women as men have. We tend to forget that there are thousands of transgenders across the country who don't even have basic rights, as they have been "ostracised" from society.

In a major step to bring the members of transgender community to the mainstream, the Chhattisgarh government has decided to recruit them in the police force. The Chhattisgarh government has already started the process of recruiting transgenders as police personnel and once it is done, the BJP-ruled state will become the first in India to have appointed the third sex in the coveted force.

According to a report by ANI, the state police have started conducting workshops to facilitate applications from transgenders to join the force. Welcoming the move of the government, several aspiring police personnel from the community are busy preparing themselves to face the interview.

In order to successfully clear the physical test involved in the recruitment process of police personnel, several transgenders are preparing themselves at the police parade ground in the capital city of Raipur. Officials say same guidelines will be followed to recruit transgenders in the police force as they do for other two genders.

In its "historic decision" in 2014, the Supreme Court declared transgenders as the third gender. The apex court stated that they too have all the fundamental rights of any another man or woman.

"Just like other genders, we too wish to serve for the betterment of our country. We are happy with the decision of the state government and will leave no stone unturned to clear tests," Divya, an aspiring cop, told ANI.

Sakshi, an aspiring police official but not from the community, said, "Earlier we were afraid of the transgender community. We were told to stay away from them. However, now when we got to know them closely, we have realised that they are similar to us."