Odisha Police to Hire Transgenders for Posts of Sub-Inspector and Constable

Odisha:

Odisha Police Recruitment Drive to include transgenders for the post of Sub-Inspector and Constable

Odisha police will now recruit members of the transgender community for positions as constables and sub-inspectors in the state's force. The Odisha Police Recruitment Board invited men, women, and transgender people to apply online for the positions of 477 sub-inspectors and 244 constables (communication). 

The application site will be available on June 22 and will conclude on July 15. 

"I invite qualified women and men to join the Odisha police as constables (communication) and SIs to serve the people of the state. Also, for the first time, people belonging to the transgender category can apply for both the posts," state's director general of police Abhay, who uses one name, told reporters in Cuttack, according to news agency PTI. 

According to Abhay, the recruitment for the SI positions would be done through the regular police cadre, whereas the constable (communications) position is a technical cadre. 

However, the application notice stated that differently-abled persons will be ineligible to apply. 

"Transgender candidates are eligible to apply, PWD (Persons with Disabilities) are not eligible to apply," the notification stated.

The required qualification for the SI position is a bachelor's degree, whereas the minimum qualification for the constable (communication) position is a Plus II diploma with a computer application diploma. Candidates will be required to take a computer-based recruiting exam as well as physical and efficiency assessments. 

The Odisha government previously intended to hire transgender people as jail guards, but no notification has been released.

The Odisha Kinner and Third Gender Mahasangh, a transgender organisation, applauded the Odisha police decision and hailed Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

"For the first time, a public advertisement has been issued seeking application from transgender people in government jobs in the state. Including the transgender people in the force will not only boost the confidence of the community but also change the society's perception towards transgender people," Mahasangh's founder president Pratap Kumar Sahu was quoted as saying by PTI.

The Odisha state government, led by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, has been praised for taking the progressive step of extending government job opportunities through Odisha police recruitment to the transgender population

Sahu also asked Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to offer transgender applicants some flexibility in physical testing because many of them may be unable to compete with men and women in running and other workouts. He emphasised that states such as Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan had already set an example by hiring transgender individuals in their police services.

Meera Parida, chairwoman of the All Odisha Transgender Welfare Association, applauded the decision as well. 

"We thank to the chief minister and home department for taking this decision towards gender equality and the development of the Transgender Community. This step will not only boost their confidence but will also change the perception of the society towards transgender persons," Parida said, according to ANI.

In 2014, the Supreme Court recognised the transgender community as the third gender, ruling that they had equal access to the basic liberties guaranteed by the Constitution. The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, was also approved by Parliament to provide the group with equal rights. 

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