Director General of Police M. Mahendar Reddy inaugurated ‘Pride Place’ – Transgender (LGBTQIA+) persons protection cell to monitor cases of offences against members of the community, here on Tuesday.
“The cell will act as a one-stop solution for transpeople in the State by offering police and other services through networking and collaboration with other stakeholders,” he said, adding that the historical initiative will go a long way in ensuring justice to the community.
The Trans People Protection Cell was formed according to guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs, as per Advisory on Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 and The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Rules, 2020.
The guidelines direct that “every State government shall set up a Transgender Protection Cell under Director General of Police in the State to monitor cases of offences against Transgender Persons.” The State-level Cell will be operational under Addl. Director General of Police (Women Safety) Swati Lakra, and the protection cell will comprise a team of inspector, three sub-inspectors, police constables and other participants.
Ms. Lakra said the cell was an effort to ensure dignity and respect for trans people, as anyone else, according to their gender identity.
DIG B. Sumathi, members from Tharuni NGO, research centre for women’s studies Anveshi, members from transgender community and others were present.
