Transgender community in Odisha hail move to recruit transgenders to paramilitary forces

Bhubaneswar, July 3: Transgender leaders have welcomed the move by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) which seeks to recruit transgender people in the paramilitary forces in the position of Assistant Commandant, the entry point for officers. “This is big news for us and I welcome it. I hope it goes through. After such a long time, we are being heard,” said Meera Parida, a transgender leader and the founder of SAKHA, a community-based organisation working for the rights and entitlements of the transgender community. Centre for Advocacy and Research (CFAR) has been a partner of SAKHA in advocating for the rights of transgender persons and other marginalised groups. Parida said that in 2011, there were around 4.9 lakh transgenders in India.  “The community has been demanding equality of opportunity and non-discriminatory policies for decades. Whether it is the education sector, job sector, or political platforms, people of our community should be given opportunities based on their education and calibre. We have seen that many other marginalized communities have been given priority by the government. It is time we too are given the same priority,” she said. Parida said that a number of progressive measures had helped the transgender community in Odisha. “I would like to thank Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik for his support to the transgender community. In the state, ration is being given to our community under the Antyodaya Scheme. In Bhubaneswar, the Slum Department arranged for houses for some members of our community and ensured basic facilities like water and electricity where they live. Transgenders can also apply for pension online. Apart from this, we have also been given the place in the political parties,” she said.