K M Dayashankar
RAJANNA-SIRCILLA, MAY 26, 2024: For the first time in the Telangana state, a petrol filling station which will be fully managed by the transgenders in the Sircilla textile town of Rajanna-Sircilla district would be opened very soon.
As the transgenders are denied employment and are looked down upon by the society, majority of them seek alms and many become sex workers for their survival.
But things are poised to change as Collector Anuraag Jayanti has decided to give a new lease of life to the transgenders by providing them employment by opening a petrol filling station in the Sircilla textile town. With an objective to provide them a chance to earn, so that they need not depend on anyone for leading a decent life, the Collector held consultations with the Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) and taking all measures to set up a petrol filling station on the Sircilla second by-pass near the government medical college.
The district administration has identified a total of 25 transgenders so far and issued them identity cards and provided trainings through V-Hub for various self-employment opportunities. In order to provide employment to transgenders, the Collector had decided to open a petrol filling station in the Sircilla town and issue No Objection Certificate (NOC) also.
The district authorities are constructing the petrol filling station at a cost of Rs 3 crore to provide direct employment to 15 transgenders and indirect employment to 10 others. Accordingly, Additional Collector (local bodies) Pujari Gautami had conducted several awareness programmes with the transgenders. District Nodal officer Lakshmi Rajam is taking all measures for the construction of the petrol filling station.
Transgenders B Madhusha said that “We are really happy as the district administration is taking measures to open exclusive petrol filling station fully which will be operated by the transgenders to provide a decent employment and lead a decent life”.
Another transgender P Supriya said that “the petrol filling station would really help us settle down in life with regular source of income to lead the life without seeking any alms. We will emerge as role model for other transgenders to lead a decent life by working to eke out a living”.
District Welfare Officer Lakshmi Rajam said that they were taking all measures to provide permanent source of income for the transgenders as per the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights), Act, 2019. Stating that the Collector was taking all measures to provide decent living for the transgenders by providing them regular employment by opening petrol filling station, he said that they were providing training to the transgenders on the operation of the petrol filling station and its maintenance.
