Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited has announced induction of 20 transgender security personnel into its frontline security services in a major step towards social empowerment and enhanced commuter security.¹ Their role includes assisting passengers with directions, monitoring baggage scanning, and so on.²

What Does It Mean

The move is being widely hailed as a major step in the right direction towards the inclusion and empowerment of transgenders. For the rapidly evolving, developing, and aspiring India, it is necessary that the urban transit systems actually are inclusive for all. Hyderabad Metro caters to nearly 5 lakh passengers daily and this move will not only foster a sense of inclusivity amongst the riders in Hyderabad but will also chart a roadmap for the urban transit systems across the country.

Economic Empowerment lays the foundation stone of social empowerment in true sense. Inducting transgenders in the frontline security services brings them in the mainstream where transgenders are seen, heard, and the part of the workforce. The move marks a milestone for the public places across the country in terms of inclusion for all genders where transgenders are seen in the workspaces across verticals.

However, with the inclusion the move aims to foster, the narrative that it will reassure women commuters is incomplete. What should have been the narrative is that it will reassure the commuters of all genders. While it is important to have the right steps taken, in the age of information and narratives, it becomes equally important to set the right messaging as well.