Second transgender joins govt job, to work as physiotherapist

Solu, a transgender, is the second in the state to be appointed in government service as a physiotherapist. Selvi, working in Rajiv Gandhi Government Hospital in Chennai, was the first. 

Solu completed her degree in Physiotherapy from PSG College of Physiotherapy in 2013, and after that she also became a member of the Indian Association of Physiotherapists (IAP) by clearing an all India exam in 2014. It is conducted once in five years. 

Recently, Solu was appointed as a physiotherapist in the Chellampatti Block Resource Centre in Madurai district to take care of the special children in the block. However, Solu’s success was not instant and she had to cross many roadblocks in her life. 

Speaking to DT Next, Solu said she joined the college in 2008 and soon after, she experienced changes in her body. So, she had to undergo sex reassignment surgery in 2010 but even after the surgery she could not inform her family and friends of her new identity. Her family members in Sattur could not understand the changes, though for financial support she relied largely on them. “My mother was my greatest support but I did not inform her about the change,” said Solu. 

After college, she worked as a lecturer and took classes for students of Bachelor in Physiotherapy. During her work, she was not allowed to wear sarees and was forced to wear pants and shirt, just like men. She was instructed not to reveal her identity to the students. 

However, as she could not hide her physical changes anymore she quit and was unemployed for a year. When she saw the vacancy in 13 Block Resource Centres in Madurai she applied but was not recruited initially. When she checked, all the 13 were seniors to her but her marks were higher than all of the selected candidates. 

So, she along with another transgender Priya Babu, founder, Transgender Resource Centre, Madurai, met Collector K Veera Raghav Rao and urged him to consider her candidature based on her marks. 

The Collector held a discussion with officials and appointed her, said Solu.