Mission for inclusion

Vidya Rajput leads the fight for transgender community's rights and acceptance in Chhattisgarh

- RAKESH KUMAR MALVIYA

THE 2023 Republic Day parade in Chhattisgarh saw for the first time participation from nine transgender people. These participants are a part of the Bastar Fighter Force, a police unit formed to fight the Naxalite movement. Their inclusion is a big win for us," says Vidya Rajput.

Since 2010, Rajput, a transgender woman from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, has strived to increase inclusion of the community and ensure access to employment, healthcare, social security and other necessities. "As per the 2011 Census, there are more than 0.48 million transgender people in the country.

But our existence is a question mark. We see neglect and humiliation. We cannot get jobs, and are often pushed into begging or sex work," she says.