Thirteen transgenders have been recruited as constables in the Chhattisgarh Police.

They include Deepika Yadav, Shree Sahu, Nishu Kshatriya, Shivanya Patel, Naina Sori, Sonia Janghel, Krishi Tandi and Saburi Yadav from Raipur district.

The others are, Sunil Yadav from Bilaspur, Komal Sahu from Dhamtari, Akshara from Ambikapur and Kamta and Neha from Rajnandgaon districts.

Their selection followed the recruitment of 2,259 police constables in the exam held in 2017-18. While, Dolly from Rajnandgaon and Ruchi Yadav from Bilaspur district are on the waiting list.

Vidya Rajput, a Member of Third Gender Welfare Board in the government, told The Pioneer that due to stigma, people excluded transgenders from family and society.

Now a message has gone that the transgender community too can perform like anyone else and that they too are entitled to a respectable life.

She expressed her gratitude to the Chhattisgarh government and police.

One of the constables, Krishi Tandi, said: "I am very happy today. I have no words to express my happiness. All 13 of us worked very hard for this exam."

"This was an opportunity that can change our lives. So everyone worked hard day and night," Tandi said.

Komal Sahu added: "This news is still unbelievable to me because I never thought I will ever get a reputed job and respect in society."

Of total, 2259 post, 2038 including 1736 men, 289 women and 13 transgenders have been selected and two transgenders are in waiting whereas 221 posts are vacant.