‘People’s gaze changed because of uniform’: PMC’s transgender staff

“Because of this uniform, the gaze of people has changed,” said Rakesh, a resident of Nanapeth who is now deployed as security personnel at Kamla Nehru Hospital. “People look at us with much more respect.”

The PMC has recruited transgenders as security guards at the civic headquarters. (Express photo by o Pavan Khengre)

Rakesh’s life has taken many turns. When the family first learned of Rakesh’s identity, they approached many doctors and also went for medical treatments. When they finally accepted Rakesh for who he is, financial problems started surfacing.

As the only other earning member, apart from the father who drives an auto rickshaw, Rakesh dropped out of college while pursuing a vocational degree in construction and technology.

“I did two jobs but lost all sources of income during the pandemic. As a transgender person, it is quite difficult to get a job as it is,” said Rakesh. “With this job, there will be some financial stability…”

At noon, after two hours of waiting and coming to know that the function had been postponed, the group decided to head out for tea as some of them had been on duty since 7 am. Passers-by turned and stared while they walked out of the building and crossed the street. “On the first day of the job, it took people about an hour to accept us but ever since, everyone has been welcoming and warm to us,” said Rakesh smiling.

“For a long time, performing in programmes was my only source of income but there is no security in that work,” said 35-year-old Manisha Nikarje. “If I were to fracture my leg, nobody would invite me to dance at their events.”

Manisha worked as a peer educator on HIV awareness for some years earlier but had to take up the work of performing at events, when the organisation shut. “It is a high-risk job. Someone abuses us, another gropes us,” said Manisha. “That will not happen in this job.”

“We have separate toilets for us at our workplace,” Manisha said.

“My family did not accept me when I switched to wearing sarees so I left home,” said Sanvi Dinkar, dressed in a neatly ironed khaki-coloured saree. “Now I am living with my guru and am glad to have gotten this job.”

“I studied at Fergusson College until Class 12 and hope to complete my studies in the future,” said Sanvi.

Nitin Kenjale, security officer, Pune Municipal Corporation, said, “A couple of organisations working with the transgender community had approached us with a request for jobs. After holding discussions with them, it was decided that we can hire transgenders on a contractual basis.”