Now, transgenders to drill traffic sense in Miira Road

The next time you spot transgenders at traffic signals in Mira Road, please do not mistake them as beggars, they may be volunteers assisting on-duty police personnel to drill sense in the minds of traffic violators.

Sporting reflective jackets, the transgender group walk up to the motorists advising them to wear helmets, tie seatbelts and not use mobile phones while driving.

Although the initiative draws a lot of stares from curious passersby and motorists, the Thane (rural) police have no problem conceding that even the trans- gender community has a role to play in working for a good and social cause.

In an attempt to reduce the cop-citizen communication, the police here are on a mission to recruit maximum number of Police Mitra’s. And when a group of brave heart third genders led by Bhavna chased down a fleeing robber in Kashimira, DySP Suhas Bawache struck upon an idea. He convinced Bhavna and several other transgenders to enroll themselves as Police Mitra’s.

Presently 22 transgender’s don the role of volunteers in their spare time to assist cops in a wide range of duties including- building-to-building safety awareness campaigns, traffic/ crowd management on festive occasions or even in day-to-day patrolling in the region.

“This initiative will not only change common perspective that we are usually on streets only to beg or pick up, but will promote our acceptance as one among them if given opportunity to pursue decent professions.” says Bhavna.

“While the idea is to empower them against discrimination, their contribution is tur ning out to be an effective asset for us,” said Bawche who is going that extra mile to help create self-employment opportunities for the transgenders.