A signal of change: Transgender group joins as traffic assistants

Around 4.30 a.m., while most of the world is still asleep, G. Kavi Raju begins a journey that is both physical and symbolic. The 36-year-old, newly appointed traffic assistant with the Telangana State Police, boards a bus from Siddipet district, travelling nearly 100 kilometres to Marredpally Traffic Police Station in Hyderabad. By the time the city stirs to life, Raju is already at his post, directing the chaos of Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) with a firm hand and a proud smile.

Clad in a crisp white shirt, khaki pants and a police cap, Raju beams with pride, something that fuels him through his two-hour daily commute. “It is a long commute, but it gives me time to rest and recharge a bit and allows me to see my fellow villagers gawking with awe as I walk past them. I look forward to moving to the city, and aim to serve better,” he shares.

Raju is one of the 44 transgender persons who were inducted as traffic assistants in December 2024 — a groundbreaking initiative by the Telangana government to foster inclusivity and formally recognise the transgender community’s contribution to society.

The uniform and the responsibilities it brings with it have given them more than a job — it is a fresh start, a second chance at life where they embrace their identities with pride.

Sharing their story of transformation, they speak of the shift from being social outcasts to figures of authority and respect on the streets. “For the first time, strangers smiled at us and greeted us on new year,” they say, reflecting on how life has changed in ways they once thought unimaginable.

A new beginning

At opposite ends of the traffic signal at the bustling JBS junction, just 500 metres apart, Raju and his colleague J. Shiva Ram, 30, command attention and respect from people. Commuters follow their instructions diligently, occasionally offering a nod or a smile of reassurance.

For Shiva Ram, the uniform symbolises a hard-won freedom. Once placed under house-arrest and nearly forced into marrying an older man, he now finds solace and purpose in his role. Reflecting on the darker days, he recalls a time when despair nearly consumed him. “As Sabitha Rani then, I was told the proposal had come because of how I looked and dressed. When I refused, my father thrashed me. Two months later, he passed away, leaving me to shoulder the entire family’s responsibility,” Shiva Ram shares.

While juggling a dual degree in Engineering and Arts, Shiva Ram also worked as a manager at an organic foods company in Hyderabad. During that time, he attempted the Sub-Inspector and Constable exams four times, narrowly missing the mark each time.

“Even if I had passed, I wouldn’t have been known as J.Shiva Ram today. Now, hearing my colleagues call me by this name is the highest form of respect I could have ever asked for,” he says with a smile.

Despite significant physical changes, Shiva Ram lived in fear of being abandoned by his family, friends, and society, unable to truly embrace his identity until 2023. That year marked a turning point. The news of his appointment as a traffic assistant in Marredpally was met with pride and acceptance by his mother and siblings, who reside in Mancherial. Their support extended further when he shared his plans to live life on his own terms.

Meanwhile, for Sania, 26, a trans-woman now deployed in Hyderabad’s Tolichowki area, life has truly come a full circle. Over the past decade, she did everything she could to survive — working as a domestic help, stitching clothes, and even selling jowar rotis. However, every time she tried to move ahead, life pushed her back, forcing her to seek alms at traffic intersections. “Today, I am in police uniform, directing traffic at one of the spots where I once begged. I couldn’t be happier,” she shares, the pride in her voice unmistakable.

A native of Mahbubnagar, Sania reflects on a life of untapped potential, where her skills and determination were overshadowed by a lack of opportunities. She vividly remembers the first time she donned her uniform: “From being looked down upon, shooed away and dismissed as an outsider to being respected and smiled at — it’s a wonderful feeling.”

Hyderabad-based transgender activist Vyjayanthi Vasanta Mogli hails the initiative as a game-changer, empowering the transgender community to envision lives beyond the confines of traditional livelihoods like begging, sex work, or seeking donations on auspicious occasions.

“Until now, they did not have the ability to even see themselves in any other role beyond the stereotypes that society imposed on them. But this initiative has sparked hope. More individuals from the community are now aspiring to join the services. They are encouraged to change their lives,” says Mogli.

Another trans rights activist Rachana Mudraboyina hopes this groundbreaking initiative will expand into other departments of Telangana government. “It took almost a decade for the community to break the stigma of being labelled a ‘fake transgender’. If someone identifies as a trans person, it’s not up for debate. We have come a long way, and we are optimistic about the success of this pilot project. Many more from the community are already motivated to join the force,” she says.

Rachana adds that they plan to give the initiative at least six months before flagging any challenges or concerns.

Hyderabad Commissioner of Police C.V. Anand emphasises the need to integrate the transgender community into mainstream society rather than looking down on them as someone different. “They have faced a lot of exclusion and ostracisation since childhood, leaving them with limited options like prostitution, begging and crime. This initiative is an opportunity for them to break out of that cycle, prove their capabilities, and show that they can thrive in other professions,” he says, expressing hope that the project’s success would set a precedent for other States to replicate.

Inspector of Marredpally Traffic Police, J. Bhaskar says that the city’s traffic cops were sensitised to ensure a smooth induction, onboarding, training and work environment for new recruits from the community. “The entire police station staff is regularly trained to treat our transgender counterparts with utmost respect and equality. It has been over a week since they joined, and they have already adapted well to the work. Their obedience and diligence are commendable,” he says.

According to traffic police officials, the names of the recruits have been added to the payroll. The pay scale will range from ₹26,000 to ₹30,000 per month, on par with Home Guards.

Commissioner Anand explains that the traffic assistants have been appointed on a six-month pilot basis, similar to the terms for Home Guards. “They are entitled to benefits such as medical treatment at our police dispensary and access to small loans or grants from the Home Guard welfare fund. Based on the outcomes, further expansion of the programme will be considered by June 2025,” he adds.

Earning their first paycheck

K.Srivalli, 24, is looking forward to buying her first two-wheeler to commute between Jeedimetla and Mahankali, where she has been posted. “This will be the first paycheck of my life, and it feels special. I am looking at two-wheeler options now, and based on how much I can save from my salary, I will buy the one I like,” she shares with excitement.

The journey from being Rajashekhar to becoming Srivalli has been one rife with challenges and self-discovery. A native of Khammam, Srivalli moved to Hyderabad at the age of 14 and underwent her gender-affirming surgery. Since then, she has done everything, from working as a stringer for a local news channel to begging at traffic signals for survival.

“My parents have passed away, but even when they were alive, they never supported me. I was thrashed and even branded with a hot knife. Today, the same people who abandoned me and never checked on me are now calling me up to congratulate me,” she says.

Srivalli has her sights set on becoming a Sub-Inspector with the Telangana Police for which she has enrolled in an undergraduate programme at Dr. Ambedkar Open University in Hyderabad. “I also plan to join coaching classes to prepare for the examination,” she says.

For Nitya, 30, a native of Karimnagar, her first salary holds a special purpose — she has pledged to give it entirely to her parents, Lingaiah and Lakshmi.

“My entire family, along with the village sarpanch, came to Hyderabad to congratulate me during my onboarding. Getting a job in the police department is not easy, even for regular people. For the government to recognise us and give us this opportunity is overwhelming,” she says, her voice filled with gratitude.

Asked about how commuters treat them, Nitya reflects on the hardships her community has endured, stating that even if someone reacts angrily, they simply brush it off with grace. “However, the response we have received has been overwhelming. People respect the uniform and follow our instructions, often with a sense of reverence. This is all very new to us,” she adds.

Sania shares that she plans to set aside ₹10,000 from her first paycheck to throw a party for her friends and well wishers who stood by her through thick and thin.

Breaking free from fear

At 25, G.Sarala manages traffic at the bustling Masab Tank junction in Hyderabad, but she carries with her a constant worry — the fear of another attack from her own family.

Having left home at the age of 16, Sarala completed her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at a well-known college in Hyderabad before working as a helper at a medical centre. “During that time, my family took me back home thrice and tried to force me into a ‘boy cut’ hairstyle. I was physically assaulted and even admitted to a rehabilitation centre, but each time, I managed to return to Hyderabad,” she recounts.

Asked if her parents knew about her new job, she says with a sigh, “No matter what I do, they will never accept me for who I am.”

For 25-year-old Ishaan, the struggles were uniquely painful. After being abandoned by his partner, who he had eloped with, disowned by his family, and rejected by multiple employers, he now manages traffic flow at the Tilak Nagar signal in Amberpet. “After my parents passed away, I lived with my paternal aunt,” he shares.

“I used to feel physically sick and itchy whenever I was forced to wear women’s clothes. I would mentally count the seconds until I could get out of them. My aunt didn’t take this well and insisted that I should only shop for women’s clothing. I don’t remember her buying me anything new after that,” Ishaan recalls.

Although his aunt occasionally checks on him, Ishaan still receives no support or acceptance from his family. “They continue to treat me like a woman, especially in public settings, which makes me extremely uncomfortable. Now, all I do is just let go,” he says.

Training and onboarding

In September, the Telangana government launched India’s first-ever transgender-specific government recruitment and social welfare programme, followed by an elaborate selection process.

Of the 58 candidates who participated, 44 — 29 transgender women and 15 transgender men — were selected. On December 6 last year, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy handed over enrolment papers to 39 individuals who officially joined the services.

Following a two-week training at the Traffic Training Institute in Goshamahal, which included physical training, techniques for managing traffic, and addressing various traffic-related challenges, the new recruits were inducted as traffic assistants.

They are now serving across 20 traffic police stations in Hyderabad, including Amberpet, Bahadurpura, Banjara Hills, Begumpet, Bowenpally, Chandrayangutta, Chikkadpally, Chilkalguda, Jubilee Hills, Kacheguda, Langar Houz, Mahankali, Malakpet, Marredpally, Nalakunta, Panjagutta, SR Nagar, Santosh Nagar, Trimulgherry, and Tolichowki.