Swapna, first transperson to clear Group-1 TNPSC test

Swapna, hailing from Madurai, secured overall rank of 282 and came 15th in the list of Persons who Studied in Tamil Medium (PSTM). Though Swapna missed the chance of getting the elite Deputy Collector (DC) post, by a slender margin of 15 marks, she is qualified to land the post of either the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) and Assistant Commissioner (AC) in Commercial Taxes Department.

“I am disappointed at not getting the DC post but will try in the next attempt and am confident of securing it. Though I know I’ll get the DSP post, I prefer becoming the Assistant Commissioner as I will get enough time to prepare for my next attempt since police training will be rigorous,” Swapna told DT Next.

Unlike other transpeople, Swapna faced very little challenge from the home front as her mother, Pichaiammal, working as a supervisor in an Anganwadi, in Alanganallur, is a huge support to her and has always been by her side and helped her with education and her coaching expenses. “If you have family support, most of your problems are solved. Without my mother I would not have succeeded, and she is a huge inspiration for me. Despite several challenges within my family, she always stood by me,” Swapna added.

However, Swapna faced challenges from the State government as well. After completing graduation in 2013, when she decided to appear for TNPSC (she was the first transperson to do so), she faced many challenges. According to a GO of the Social Welfare Department, all transpeople were given MBC quota and even though Swapna falls under the BC category, she fought for transpeople in the SC category.

“I had no problem in applying under the MBC quota, but transpeople like me in the SC quota would be affected as they had to register under MBC which is unacceptable. Hence, I filed a petition in the HC and won the case in 2018 in which the court directed the government to issue an appointment order for me in the female quota under the BC category,” Swapna said. At the time, Swapna had already cleared eight exams in TNPSC ranging from TNPSC Group-IIA to Group-II. She is currently working as group-II official in the Commercial Taxes Department.