Chennai: K Prithika Yashini
has become the first Indian transgender to induct in the Chennai Police as a
Sub-Inspector on October 9. She is country’s first transgender cop who has
taken the charge of SI among the 111 sub-inspectors.
Prithika faced many hurdles to join the police service as her application was initially rejected because of her gender. She then approached the Madras High Court, which ordered the Tamil Nadu Uniformed Services Recruitment Board to accept her application. She was subsequently selected as sub-inspector last year and went through training at the Tamil Nadu Police Academy in Vandalur.
After fighting social dogma, gender bias and many glass ceilings she has come out with flying colors.
Yashini, who was born as Pradeep Kumar had to first fight the society to alter identify which she succeeded after a sex change operation to become who she believed she was from within.
She attempted to achieve a next to impossible goal by applying to become a police officer even after being fully aware of that the in police force is alleged filled with male chauvinism.
Many couldn't even digest her bold move of applying for the force. Her application was also rejected stating that there were only two columns under which she can restrict her gender identity, either 'male' or 'female' but she went ahead and filled it as 'transgender'.
This led to a legal battle and finally citing a Court order she won the battle against 'Tamil Nadu Uniform Services Recruitment Board'.
Then came the physical endurance and stamina stress where she cleared every test except the 100 meter dash where she reportedly failed by 1 second which almost led to her disqualification.
But citing discrepancy an internal unofficial inquiry was conducted following which her name was cleared.
Yashini, then underwent physical and police officer training and on March 31 she passed out of the Tamil Nadu Police Academy at Vandalur. Yashini took charge as sub - inspector of police at a Dharmapuri police station.
Yashini's victory is considered to be a milestone in the development of transgenders in the country, giving the community a boost to chase their dreams.
