Bagalakote: In a first in the State, a 35-year-old transgender woman has been appointed as a Data Entry Operator (DEO) at Taluk Panchayat (TP) Office in Bilagi in the District.
Drakshayani Bolaraddi (36), who graduated in Arts is a resident of Tolamatti Village of Bilagi in the District. The Zilla Panchayat has appointed her as DEO under National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) on contract basis. She has been working from the past three months in the TP Office in Bilagi. She is likely to be the first transgender woman to be recruited either as a contract or permanent employee at any government office in the State.
Gopal G., District Programme Manager, NRLM, said that, “We got to know about the 35-year-old transgender woman during a meeting held at Tolamatti Gram Panchayat. In order to give a platform for oppressed gender, she has been appointed as DEO under NRLM scheme. She had met all the required criteria including being a member of a self-help group for the vacate post.”
“Her parents were also worried about the future as she neither landed any job nor married because of hormonal changes in the body. Now, they are happy as their daughter is working at a government office. We have also created a work-friendly environment for her in the TP. Without any issues she is working from the past three months as DEO in Bilagi,” elaborated NRLM Programme Manager Gopal.
Drakshayani’s life was confined just to four walls since she came to know about hormonal changes in her body. This job has given her a new and happy life.
Drakshayani Bolareddi, DEO under NRLM, said that, “I hardly used to step out of the house because of social anxiety. Those were the very tough days of my life. Since I have got the job, I am proudly stepping out of the house and earning my own bread. I thank Zilla Panchayat for not only giving life to me but also preferring transgender for this job.”
“The officials of NRLM and other employees at the TP Office are very supportive and encourage me every day. I have not faced any mistreatment from any of the staff since day one of my job. I have not asked for a better life than this. Even my parents are very supportive in this new journey. However, I am applying for various government jobs. I am confident that I will clear the exams,” happily expressed 35-year-old Drakshayani.
Zilla Panchayat has taken up many initiatives that concentrates on the development of oppressed communities like transgenders and sex workers in the District. Under various schemes many self-help groups of transgenders and sex workers have been formed. The members of these groups are being provided life skill training like phenyl making and goat farming. The Department of Women and Child Welfare and Skill Development Entrepreneurship and Livelihood recognising the initiative of ZP Bagalakote has awarded them under social inclusion category for providing job to a transgender woman.
“Bagalkot ZP is committed towards providing sustainable livelihood to vulnerable sections like transgenders, sex workers and physically challenged. In the upcoming year, we are planning to cover everyone in these categories under NRLM and MGNREGA schemes for a dignified livelihood,” said ZP CEO, T. Bhoobalan.
