Bhubaneswar: Odisha's Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation is taking all steps to ensure the inclusivity of all sections of the society and keeping it in mind the body is engaging members of the transgender community in the operation and maintenance of cesspool vehicles.

For this the BMC signed an agreement with a self-help group of the community TG Swikruti SHG which will operate and maintain the vehicles used for cesspool management in the city, reports India Narrative website.

Currently, BMC has nine such vehicles which are used to empty septic tanks and moving the sludge to the treatment plants. Of these nine, seven will be handed over to TG Swikruti Group for operation and maintenance, the website mentioned.

Meghana Sahoo, the leader of the SHG expressed happiness with the new assignment and thanked BMC for trusting them.

Welcoming this move, Meera Parida, Chairman of All Odisha Third Gender Welfare Trust and activist told India Narrative: “It is definitely a step in the right direction. The community needs to be made economically independent, thus making them self-reliant and confident.”

Parida went on to add: “Even though each and every type of work and activity in the society, from farming to teaching to driving and business is important, we don’t want the trans people to be identified with waste management. The cesspool vehicles work is vital but it should not be tagged to the community is my submission. Other avenues of employment and gainful engagement too should be opened for trans people.”