Uttar Pradesh gets its 1st 'transgender desk' at Lucknow police station

LUCKNOW: In a first-of-its-kind gender-inclusive community policing initiative in the state, Lucknow police on Thursday inaugurated a ‘Transgender Community Desk’ at Kaiserbagh police station in the city.
“It was decided by the state government on May 2, that a cell for transgender community ought to be established for addressing their grievances across the state. A meeting was held by the government and Kinnar Kalyan Board where the decision was made,” said Prashant Kumar, additional director general of police, law and order.
“We ought to build an inclusive society ensuring equal opportunities for all,” said the ADG.
Lucknow police commissioner DK Thakur said the dedicated desk will be managed by two women cops.
“It will be the focal point for all grievance redressal among transgender community in Lucknow police commissionerate. The desk will provide support to file cases in offences related to violence or discrimination against any transgender person,” said Thakur. Among other services, the desk will also provide counselling, legal aid in partnership with the department of women and child welfare, and district legal services authority.
DCP, West, Somen Barma, said that the psychiatry ward of KGMU has also extended help as many of the transgenders face social alienation and fall prey to different mental and psychological issues. “But now, they don’t have to worry as doctors will counsel them at his centre. The cell will pave the way for a long journey of building bridges to create an equitable society for all,” he said.
Barma also said that they were looking for an NGO that could provide an orientation to the cops deployed at the desk, “so that they can understand and do redressal in the best possible manner”.
“We often get hurt over petty things. But the transgender community has been suffering discrimination since the very beginning. The help desk is a small step towards a great journey. It will herald a huge difference,” said Chiranjeev Nath Sinha, additional deputy commissioner of police, West Zone.
He also said that mostly cases of extortion during housewarming ceremony, birth of children come up against the transgender community and “we have to involve a very sensitive approach in dealing with them”.
“With the help of an NGO, we will also try to make them employed in different areas,” he added.
Gachibowli police station in Hyderabad was the first to implement the transgender help desk in the country, followed by Thane in Maharashtra. While Mumbai police commissionerate and Kolkata police have a separate unit to deal with transgender issues.
In 2014, the Supreme Court recognized the transgender community as a “third gender” along with male and female and ruled that they have equal privilege over the fundamental rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution.