Suryap

Bhubaneswar: A group of trangenders on Saturday staged a dharna in front of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik’s residence here and submitted a memorandum to the Bhubaneswar Mayor alleging that they have been deprived, through a directive issued by the Secretary of the Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) department asking them to work without a pay.

As per their allegations, the five transgender candidates were selected to work at the project management unit of the SSEPD department following an interview.

However, they were asked by the Secretary of the department to undergo training for three months without pay. The aspirants were further told by the official that they will be appointed in the department afterwards.
Opposing the move, the candidates yesterday sat on a dharna in front of the CM's residence Naveen Niwas.

"If the issue is not resolved at the earliest, we will intensify our agitation," stated Ayesha Behera, one of the aspirants.

It may be mentioned here that the SSEPD department had decided to bear 50 per cent of the financial assistance given by banking institutions to transgenders in a bid to provide self-employment.

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