North India gets first Metro station dedicated to transgenders
Noida (UP): The Noida Metro Rail Corporation (NMRC) on Tuesday officially renamed one of its stations here as "Pride Station" dedicated to the transgender community, a first for Metro services in northern India.
Gautam Buddh Nagar MP Mahesh Sharma, Noida MLA Pankaj Singh, and NMRC Managing Director Ritu Maheshwari unveiled the new name of the station, earlier known as the Sector 50 station.
Six members of the transgender community, who have been recruited by NMRC through contractors for services at the Metro station, were present at the station.
"These members have been provided the necessary training by NMRC before deployment," NMRC's Deputy General Manager for Corporate Communications Sandhya Sharma said.
According to the NMRC, which operates the Metro between the twin cities of Noida and Greater Noida in western UP, it is a first-of-its-kind initiative introduced by a Metro network in northern India.
"This step has been taken by the NMRC for the inclusion and meaningful participation of the members of the transgender community. As per Census 2011, there are 4.9 lakh transgenders in India, out of whom around 35,000 are staying in NCR. These numbers may have increased manifold in the present scenario, the operator said.
The initiative was inspired by the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, passed by the Centre for the protection of the rights of the transgender people and working towards their welfare, it added.
The NMRC had on June 19 announced its decision to convert the Sector 50 station into a She Man station that shall have special facilities and employment for the transgenders. The operator had earlier thought of renaming the station as Rainbow .
Earlier in 2017, the Kochi Metro Rail Limited in Kerala had taken a similar step by employing 23 transgenders, breaking new ground in gender justice.
The station has been named 'Pride' as the NMRC feels extremely proud and privileged to have qualified members of the transgender community as part of the NMRC family. It also instills a sense of pride among the community and this step by NMRC is bound to be a ray of hope to uplift the members of this community and help in breaking stereotypes about them so that they too can live a dignified life with their head held high, the NMRC said in a statement.
The name, it said, was selected after receiving suggestions from the general public and various NGOs and other organizations that work for the community.
Suggestions were called online from people on NMRC's website and maximum people suggested the name Pride .
The Pride station, though dedicated to the transgenders, will be open for all passengers. It will also provide employment opportunities for the transgender community, it added.
The artwork and look of the Pride station have also been done to signify the essence and spirit of the members of the transgender community.
To provide the community with employment opportunities and to enable their meaningful inclusion in society, NMRC had also come up with six vacancies -- four for ticket vending operator and two for housekeeping staff -- for the transgender community.
These vacancies were specifically for deployment at the 'Pride' Station. The candidates were asked to submit their applications to NMRC's contractors responsible for deploying staff at NMRC's stations, the operator said.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
