CHENNAI: “I have no role models,” said Praba Mohan, a transgender, after receiving the appointment order from Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami to serve with the Armed Police Force, in Chennai on Monday.
Around 15,621 personnel got their appointment orders from departments such as police, fire and rescue and prisons at a ceremony at Kalaivanar Arangam with the top brass, including Police DGP T K Rajendran, in attendance.
Of the four transgender officers who had been appointed, two received their appointment orders from the Chief Minister for postings in Cuddalore and Krishnagiri. Prabha (23) would join duty in Krishnagiri district Armed Police Force.
“I was the third child of a farming family at Bhavani in Erode. I felt I was different from others when in Class VIII. I was so scared to explain my situation to my family,” said Prabha, who has been appointed as a second-grade armed police officer after completing training in Tiruchy.
Despite the insecurities that posed a challenge, Prabha went on to complete civil engineering course from a college in Ooty. “After that, I decided to go for sex change surgery. But my family members were against it.
So I had to run away to Bengaluru to get it done. Thereafter, my family refused to accept me. So I worked as a temporary office assistant in Hosur Social Welfare Department for six months,” Prabha said. It was during this time that an old classmate convinced Prabha to aim for a government job.
“He kept pushing me to dream for a government job, just like Pritika Yashini, the first transgender police officer,” said Prabha. Now, her family members have turned around, but Prabha is far from resting on laurels.
“I will write Group I exam and will become Deputy Superintendent of Police,” the new appointee said. Dakshyani, another transgender who got the appointment order from the Chief Minister, will be posted in Cuddalore district.