Patna: Chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday asked officials to figure out if transgender persons can be deployed as security guards at remand homes, short stay homes and similar facilities for women and girls across Bihar.

The move comes after cases of rape and molestation, in which security personnel and wardens were also involved, surfaced at such shelters - many of them run by NGOs or civil society organisations - across the state.

The chief minister's directions came after social welfare department (SWD) principal secretary Atul Prasad discussed the proposal during the CM's Lok Samvad (public interaction) programme at his 1 Aney Marg official residence.

"It's a good proposal. Work it out," Nitish told Atul.

Nitish also directed officials to initiate a survey of the transgender population in the state so that the government can know about their numbers and initiate welfare projects for them. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in 2008 estimated Bihar's transgender population to be around 40,000.

The proposal to have transgender persons as guards at remand homes came up for discussion at the Lok Samvad when transgender leader Reshma Prasad came up with development proposals for the community, including a scheme to manufacture menstruation cups, made of silicone rubber and popular in developed countries.

At present, the Bihar government provides free sanitary napkins to adolescent schoolgirls at around Rs 300 per girl per year. On the other hand, one mentsruation cup could be used for up to five years, and is considered more hygienic than sanitary napkins, whose proper disposal has become a problem of global proportions.

Nitish suggested that the chief secretary call Reshma and discuss about menstruation cups.

"My concern is to see whether it is suitable, climatically and physically, for our state," Nitish said.

With regard to cases of molestation and rape at remand or short stay homes, the chief minister said the time has come to improve the entire system.

"The entire system should be evaluated and steps should be taken to ensure such incidents do not recur," Nitish said.

"No such incidents will be hidden and strict action will be taken against people involved in them."

The state government has already initiated measures to grade NGOs with the help of Unicef, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and social welfare department.

Currently, some developed nations, including the US, employ transgenders in the armed forces.