Odisha Cop Lauded For Rehabilitating Transgenders

Paralakhemundi: A noble effort by woman IPS officer and Gajapati SP Sara Sharma to provide livelihood support to transgenders is being lauded by all in Odisha.

The SP, with financial support from people of Gajapati district, has set up a new OMFED parlour near the district headquarters hospital. It was inaugurated by local MLA K Narayan Rao on Wednesday evening.

Named Surabhi Milk Parlour, it will remain open round-the-clock and will be managed by eight transgenders. Patients and their attendants can buy tea, coffee, hot milk, dry foods and drinking water from the parlour.

Talking to the media, the SP said she had come to know about the pitiable plight of the transgenders after reading several books and journals. “The transgenders are not allowed to stay with their family members. Due to their psycho-physiological behaviour, they are subject to humiliation. Without any livelihood, they either engage in beggary or indulge in other immoral activities. I am trying to do something for them so that they will live in the society with dignity,” she added.

The SP also said that apart from the people of Gajapati district, who have donated money for the construction of this parlour, the local MP and the MLA had also assured financial assistance of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh respectively.

“We are immensely thankful to our SP for providing us a new source of earning. We will try our best to further develop this parlour and raise our income,” said Madhu Kinnar, a transgender.