Bhubaneswar: A transgender group has been roped in to operate and maintain cesspool vehicles (extracting and transporting faecal sludge) within Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation limits.
An agreement in this regard was signed with TG Swikruti SHG on Wednesday in presence of Mayor Sulochana Das and BMC Commissioner Vijay Amruta Kulange.
They were entrusted with the task, having proved their mettle in parking management and holding tax collection. “The civic body has reposed faith on the TG community on the basis of their good work in handling other responsibilities under the BMC,” said the Mayor.
According BMC sources, that the third gender would operate and maintain seven of the nine ceasepool vehicles, which are used for emptying septic tanks and transporting sludge to Faecal Sludge Treatment plant sites at Rokat and Basuaghal areas in the city. People, who apply online for cesspool vehicle, pay Rs 1,000 for a trip, and this money will now be directed towards the group’s account and all requests will also be forwarded to them.
The SHG will engage one driver and two helpers in each vehicle. “The BMC will not collect any performance security or monthly fee from the TG group,” said a BMC official.
