"For many years, I was known by various slurs. Today, I am a cop,'' said 24-year-old Divya Nishad, a transgender woman, who is all set to join Chhattisgarh police force soon.
Divya is among the nine people from the community to be inducted into the Bastar Fighters – a special unit of Chhattisgarh Police formed to operate in Maoist-prone Bastar division.
Including the recent nine inductees, Chhattisgarh now has 22 trans persons in its police forces.
After the announcement of setting up of the special unit of Chhattisgarh Police in 2020, the district-wise recruitment process began in October-November 2021.
As per the police department, a total of 53,336 applications were received from the seven districts of the Bastar division. A total of 608 aspirants were selected into the force whose results were announced on 15 August.
The people from third gender community would don the police uniform for the first time in Maoist-infested Bastar of Chhattisgarh.
(Photo by special arrangement/The Quint)
'Was Laughed at and Ridiculed, Would be Saluted Now'
Recounting her journey, Divya said that their life has always been a topic of laughter for the people and was a ridicule till now.
"I was always ridiculed, even abused throughout my educational period. Once my father called me a slur and I left the house and didn't return for a year," Divya told The Quint.
Divya thanked her mother who supported her in becoming the first person in their entire family to get a government job.
"I am the first one to get a government job, in the police department. I was laughed at and ridiculed and now they will salute me," Divya added with a satisfied tone.
Around 200 km away, in Halba Kajora village of Bastar district, lives 24-year-old Barkha Baghel – whose journey to join Bastar Fighters has also not been an easy one.
Barkha's father Ayatu Ram Baghel, who is also a notable figure in the village, used to fear that Barkha's identity will dent his stature and people would make fun of him.
Barkha Baghel on 15 August after getting selected in the police force.
(Photo by special arrangement/The Quint)
"My father used to say that 'I am a respected man in the village, people will make fun of me.' He used to get worked up. My brothers from my father's first marriage would beat me up. The life has been mostly downside till now. But I am hopeful that now things will change."
Prior to joining the force, Barkha had been working as a physiotherapy assistant since 2018.
Vidhya Rajpoot, a Raipur-based transgender rights activist, said that the induction of transgender people in police force is an example for the country.
“We thank the Chhattisgarh government for helping the transgender people to get selected in the police force. Chhattisgarh's steps have become an example for the rest of the country," Rajpoot said.
'Example for Other States'
Congratulating the selected candidates, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday, 16 August, said:
“The recruitment of transgender people in the police force is a step which our government has started to set an example for all states. We will ensure that officers and constabulary of Chhattisgarh Police shall be sensitised against gender discrimination."
P Sundarraj, Inspector General of Police, Bastar Range said that the department would ensure that conductive work atmosphere bereft of any discrimination is provided to the newly recruited personnel.
"All other police personnel also would be sensitised to be accommodative and helpful to their third gender counterparts. Since, transgenders would be inducted for first time in Bastar Range, we are confident that it would add new dimension and perspective to policing in the region."said P Sundarraj, Inspector General of Police, Bastar range.
Earlier in March 2021, 13 persons from the transgender community were inducted into the Chhattisgarh police force.
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