In a remarkable step towards promoting gender equality, the Odisha government in a first has allowed transgenders to apply for posts of sub-inspector (SI) and constable (communication) in Odisha police. The Odisha Police Recruitment Board sought online applications from men, women and transgenders for the appointment of 477 sub-inspectors and 244 constables (communication).
The application portal will open from June 22 till July 15.
"I invite qualified women and men to join the Odisha police as constables (communication) and SIs to serve the people of the state. Also, for the first time, people belonging to the transgender category can apply for both the posts," state's director general of police Abhay informed media in Cuttack.
“So far, the only State in the country to engage transgenders in its police force in Tamil Nadu. Our objective is to ensure gender inclusion in the police force,” said a senior officer of Odisha Police.
Applications for the post of assistant sub-inspectors (communication) will be announced soon and transgenders can apply too.
The All Odisha Third Gender Welfare Trust, a transgender body has welcomed the decision and extended thanks to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and DGP Abhay for the initiative.
The trust’s chairperson Meira Parida said: “During the then Police Commissioner RP Sharma’s tenure, at least 15 transgenders were engaged as traffic volunteers in the Capital. They have also done a decent job in increasing the revenue of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) after they were given the task of collecting and holding tax.”
"For the first time, a public advertisement has been issued seeking application from transgender people in government jobs in the state. Including the transgender people in the force will not only boost the confidence of the community but also change the society's perception towards transgender people," news agency PTI quoted the trust’s founder president Pratap Kumar Sahu.
Mr Sahu has also urged CM Patnaik to give some relaxation to transgender candidates relating to physical tests as many might not be able to compete with men and women in running and other physical activities.
States like Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan have already set examples for the others states by recruiting people from the transgender community in their police force, Sahu added.
Welcoming the decision, Parida said, "We thank the chief minister and home department for taking this decision towards gender equality and the development of the Transgender Community. This step will not only boost their confidence but will also change the perception of the society towards transgender persons.”
Around 45 transgenders have already expressed their wishes to join the police service, Parida informed.
For the post of SI, minimum qualification of graduation and for the constable (communication) post Plus II with a diploma in computer application has been set.
Candidates will have to undergo a mandatory computer-based recruitment examination, physical and efficiency test.
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Earlier, the Odisha government had decided to recruit transgenders as jail warders but no notification has been issued yet.