Her Voice: “I joined the Railways as an Assistant. But, years after, I realised certain physical changes in my body. It slowly showed up to others,” Ms. Sindhu said.
Despite finding the railway premises welcoming, the outside world incessantly criticized her for her feminine demeanor. Under immense mental strain, Ms. Sindhu left her job in 2010 and sought solace living amongst fellow transgenders. After spending 18 months in seclusion, she realized the importance of reclaiming a dignified life and expressed her desire to return to the railways.
“Though initially hesitant due to my gender transition, the officials, particularly the office-bearers of the Southern Railway Mazdoor Union (SRMU), namely Senthil Kumar and J.M. Rafi, vehemently advocated for my reinstatement,” Ms. Sindhu gratefully recalled. The union leaders proposed a medical examination by railway doctors to determine her gender, a suggestion accepted by the railway administration. “Fortunately, the railway administration recognized my gender transition and reinstated me as a female employee,” she remarked.
Despite rising through the ranks to become a Senior Technician in the Railway Electrical Department, her career faced a setback when she was injured in an accident in 2020. As a result, she was offered non-technical work due to her inability to perform technical duties. “Since my youth, I aspired to serve the public as a TTE. Therefore, I underwent training and successfully passed the exam to become one,” she explained.
Recently, Ms. Sindhu was appointed as a TTE in Dindigul, where she serves both as a sleeper class TTE and in the station lobby. “I’m deeply touched by the positive reception of my physical transformation by the majority of the public,” she expressed. She recounted instances where people approached her to shake hands and congratulate her, signifying a significant shift in public perception towards transgender individuals over the past several years.
Some even celebrated her appointment in Dindigul by distributing cake, which greatly boosted her confidence. “I intentionally chose this position to interact with a large number of travelers, not only for personal recognition but also to promote acceptance of people like me in society,” she stated. Ms. Sindhu emphasized the need for more opportunities for transgender individuals and advocated for reservation in both state and central government jobs to combat societal stigma and provide them with respectable positions.
