Bhubaneswar, April 23: When police decided to rope in volunteers to man traffic at various junctions in the city, they could have never imagined that the initiative would offer a lifetime chance to transgenders.
As 60 people enrolled themselves as traffic volunteers today, 25 out of them are transgenders.
The induction programme was held at commissionerate police headquarters today.
In a similar move in 2013, the Chennai police had inducted transgenders as traffic volunteers.
The volunteers will render their service on honorary and non-remunerative basis.
They will work for three hours a day, assist the traffic cops and also create awareness among commuters.
Chairman of All Odisha Third Gender's Association, Meera, said they had approached the police in March if they could help the cops manage traffic on the roads. "The police had then convened a meeting with us and sought our services for the programme," said Meera.
"The cops selected 25 persons from among us on the basis of our educational qualification and the level of interest we have to do something for the society. A few of us hold graduate degrees and this will give us an oppurtunity to prove what we are capable of," said Meera.
"We want to do something for the society. We want to show everybody that we are no different than others," said Subham, a member of the association.
The cops, too, are upbeat about the response they have got.
Police officials said they decided to include the members of transgender community for the programme as they wanted to give them a platform to showcase what they are capable of. They also need recognition. The Supreme Court has already recognised them as third gender and now, it is our responsibility to take it forward. So, we decided to include them in the programme," said a senior police official.
The volunteers would be imparted a two-day training about road discipline, safety of commuters, traffic regulation at crossings, careful driving and parking and first aid. After this is over, they will be imparted a two-week field training on traffic management at various junctions in the city where they will watch traffic police work and will also assist them.
The volunteers will be given T-shirts and caps bearing the logo of commissionerate police, which they would have to wear while on duty.
Police commissioner R.P Sharma said the volunteers under this programme would also be provided experience certificates. "We aim to rope in 100 such people. The number of vehicles in the city are increasing and the volunteers will assist the police in traffic management," said Sharma.
The police have mooted the idea keeping an eye on the shortage of traffic personnel. The cops said they needed additional manpower of at least 200. At present, the traffic wing is functioning with 173 constables, 19 havildars, 77 home guards and 48 personnel of Odisha Auxiliary Police Force (OAPF), which is not sufficient.
The city has 57 traffic intersections out of which 19 have signalling system, but traffic personnel are deployed at every crossing. The volunteers will be deployed at these places to assist the cops.
The participants were elated to have got an opportunity to be a part of this initiative. "This would teach us regarding traffic rules and regulations and subsequently we can educate others. The decision to provide certificates would attract more youths," said Nisha Goenka, a volunteer.
