‘Pride Place’ a safety cell for transgenders. Telangana police’s Women Safety Wing on April 12, launched a special cell for transgenders.
It is India’s first policy-driven initiative that will work exclusively to support individuals from the LGBTQIA community.
“ ‘Pride Place’ Transgender (LGBTQIA+) Persons Protection Cell will act as a one-stop solution for issues faced by the transgender community”
DGP M Mahendar Reddy
Aim Towards The Initiative
Pride Place is created with the aim to provide a safe space for transgender along with the rest of the LGBTQIA community.
“We must address the people belonging to the community as they want to be identified, We have been working closely with NGO Taruni and other organistaions to provide safe space for the vulnerable communities”
Sumati Badugla, DIG, Women Safety Wing
The Women Safety Wing will also collaborate with various organisations advocating for the rights of the aforementioned groups.
This initiative is a joined effort of the police and the NGOs working towards the upliftment of the community. Two people who played pivotal roles in conceptualizing the cell were, Mamata Raghuveer, founder of Tharuni, an NGO working towards women’s welfare, along with Tashi Choedup from Anveshi Research Centre.
And Harshini Makela has been selected as a coordinator for Pride Place.
Released a Logo
M. Mahendar Reddy, Director-General of Police released a logo of Pride Place and a booklet containing details, including the Standard Operating Procedures of the initiative.
The police personnel will be trained and sensitized on Trans and LGBTQIA issues with protection cells to be established at both state and district levels.
The cell is going to work towards preventing crime, keeping a check on the cases of offenses against transgender persons, and ensuring timely registration of cases and investigation of such offenses.
They are also going to work on creating awareness about the rights of transgender persons in order to implement transgender laws in the state.
