MADURAI: Though shortlisted for physical test for the recruitment of Sub Inspectors (SI), S Swapna (24), a transwoman from Madurai is anxious as she fears discrimination because of her sexual identity.
While the Madras High Court order on Monday permitting K Prathika Yashini, another transwoman, to take the physical test has given some hope, Swapna is still apprehensive that there would be discrimination considering her past experiences with the system.
She had had to go through several hurdles and finally it was the court which gave the much needed reprieve by allowing her to take Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission and Union Public Service Commission exams almost a year back.
Though assigned as a male at birth, she later underwent a sex reassignment surgery to become a woman. But, the primary problem she faced was with her educational certificates which says she is a male. After the court ordered in her favour, asking the government to issue fresh certificates with her new name of Swapna and sex as female, she has applied for all the tests with the new certificates.
She had cleared the written exam for the SI selection by scoring 52 marks out of 70 and is presently undergoing training to clear the physical test.
“While Yashini had similar problems with certificates, I did not face any issue during the application for SI selection as I had all the certificates ready with my sex as female,” Swapna said.
“Only when I appear for the physical test on August 4 at the Race Course ground in Madurai, they will know that I am a transwoman,” she added.
Swapna’s nagging worry is whether officers, conducting the tests, would have been advised to treat her as a woman. “Some of the police personnel I interacted with told me that I will be rejected right away,” she said.
At a meeting here, TN Uniformed Services Recruitment Board ADGP Sunil Kumar Singh on Monday discussed the preparations for conducting the physical tests.