Transgenders to be appointed as jail warders!

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has decided to recruit transgenders as jail warders as per the directive of the Supreme Court.

For implementation of the directive of the apex court, the State Police has informed the Odisha Subordinate Staff Selection Commission (OSSSC) for recruitment of transgenders as jail waders.

“A letter to this effect has been sent to the Commission to take necessary steps in this regard,” Manoranjan Patnaik, ADG, Prisons, said.

Expressing happiness over the State government’s decision, Geeta, a transgender said, “I would give credit to the media house and thank the Chief Minister, Secretaries and DIG jail. This is a new thing in the country itself. The government has provided livelihood support to transgender community which had been a long standing demand. Besides, I would request corporate houses and other departments in the State to provide us opportunities as well.”

Geeta further stated, "We want a transgender commission to address more issues of the community."

In a letter to the ADG-cum-IG of Prisons, and Department of Correctional Service (DCS) on July 27 this year, Deputy Secretary, Home, BB Mishra had sought a clarification on inclusion of the transgenders as a gender category in recruitment of jail warders by keeping their physical standards at the same level as that of women candidates as per the observation of the Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD).

The letter had also requested the ADG to furnish the above observation/clarification to OSSSC to expedite the process of recruitment of jail warders by stipulating the same physical standards for the transgenders as are prescribed for women candidates.