In a bid to empower the LGBTQIA+ community members, the authorities in Malkangiri District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) have appointed five transgender individuals as security guards.

Durga, Sonali, Tushar, Kailash and Hial were appointed by the Malkangiri district administration to enable transgenders to live an independent life. The five will work as security guards at the female, gynaecology and paediatrics wards of the hospital and will receive a monthly remuneration of ₹6000 to ₹7000 with insurance and other facilities.

The transgenders were appointed under the Nirmal scheme and were trained by the Malkangiri District Police before taking up the new job.

“After the 5T initiative was taken up in the healthcare sector, cleanliness at hospitals has been given the priority. Under the ‘Nirmala’ yojana, the district administration has provided jobs to third gender people,” an official was quoted by Sambad English.

“After undergoing training of 15 days, five of us joined here and we are extremely happy about it. We stay at the hospital for 8-hours every day during which we take care of the patients,” Kailash Dora, one of the newly appointed security guards was quoted by Odisha TV.

The Odisha government launched the Nirmal Scheme in 2018 to provide upgraded healthcare facilities in all the state-run hospitals. The scheme focuses on providing basic facilities like sanitation and security services and to provide affordable health care services for everyone.

The Odisha government had also announced a number of healthcare projects last month. Under the ‘Mo Sarkar’ initiative launched on October 2, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had announced the construction of doctor accommodation and transit home and rest shed for attendants of patients in Malkangiri district hospitals.

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