Two transgender doctors script history, join govt service in Telangana
Hyderabad, Dec 1: Two transgenders in Telangana, who completed medicine overcoming challenges in their personal life, have scripted history by becoming the first transgender doctors to join government service in the state.
Prachi Rathod and Ruth John Paul joined the state-run Osmania General Hospital (OGH) as medical officers recently.
Speaking to PTI, Rathod, who was removed from the job by a super-specialty hospital in the city because of gender, recounted the social stigma and discrimination that had to be endured since childhood.
"The stigma and discrimination would never go in spite of all your achievements," said Rathod who completed MBBS in 2015 from a medical college in Adilabad.
Rathod had gone to Delhi to pursue post-graduation but had to return to Hyderabad due to the unfavourable environment.
However, Rathod did a diploma in emergency medicine while working in a hospital here.
Rathod worked in a super-specialty hospital in the city for three years but was thrown out of the job due to gender as the hospital felt that it may hamper the flow of patients.
A Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) came to the rescue and Rathod worked in a clinic run by the NGO and later secured a job in the OGH.
Though Rathod dreamt of becoming a doctor while growing up, the immediate concern during 11th and 12th standards was how to overcome the harassment and bullying from other students.
"It was actually a bad teenage. More than thinking about becoming a doctor, the bigger issue was how to survive in life and how to overcome all these," Rathod said.
Reflecting on the problems faced by the transgenders, Rathod said certain reservations in jobs and education would help the community to come up in life.
Like minorities are considered for affirmative action, "sexual minorities" should be considered for encouraging them.
"When you have categorised us as third gender, I just want to ask the government or the person who differentiated us (as to) who is the first gender and who is the second gender," the doctor said.
The other transgender doctor Ruth John Paul could not be reached immediately.
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Kerala poll turnout rises to 79.70 pc after inclusion of service voters’ postal ballots: CEO
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Kerala’s voter turnout in the April 9 Assembly elections has tentatively risen to 79.70 per cent after the inclusion of service voters’ postal ballots, CEO Rathan U Kelkar said on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference here, Kelkar also outlined elaborate arrangements for the counting of votes scheduled for Monday.
He said the polling percentage for the Assembly election was 79.63 per cent, excluding postal ballots of service voters.
The chief electoral officer said 53,984 postal ballots had been issued to service voters, of which 20,028 had been received as of May 1.
“Service voters can submit postal ballots till before counting begins. We have directed the postal department that postal ballots received from service voters, including on Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, should be handed over to the returning officers without delay,” he said.
He said the receipt of service voters’ postal ballots had increased the polling percentage by 0.07 percentage points.
“The present voting percentage, after including service voters’ inputs, stands at 79.70 per cent on a tentative basis,” he said.
Kelkar said the final turnout figure would be announced only after the Election Commission of India releases its official index card, usually 48 hours after counting.
Counting of votes in all 140 Assembly constituencies will begin at 8 am across 43 locations in the state, he said.
As per Election Commission guidelines, postal ballots will be counted first, followed by the counting of EVM votes after a gap of 30 minutes.
Round-wise counting data will be uploaded in real time on the Election Commission’s mobile application and the official portal result.eci.gov.in, he said.
A total of 15,465 counting personnel have been deployed for the exercise, while 32,301 police personnel, including 20 companies of Central Armed Police Forces, have been deployed for security at counting centres.
Each Assembly constituency will have a dedicated counting observer, mostly senior IAS officers, to supervise the process, Kelkar said.
Only persons with QR-based identity cards will be allowed entry into counting centres, he said.
Kelkar said counting staff and security personnel had undergone detailed training, and strict instructions had been issued to ensure there was no haste in the counting process.
“There is no award for finishing first. But any lapse will invite strict disciplinary action,” he said.
District administrations have been empowered to regulate or restrict victory processions if required to maintain law and order, he said, adding that the Model Code of Conduct will remain in force till May 6 or until withdrawn by the Election Commission.
Kelkar also warned against the spread of misinformation related to election results.
“Legal action will be taken against those spreading false news or misinformation. The public should rely only on official information released by the Election Commission,” he said.
