Raipur, May 04: In order to promote gender equality, the Chhattisgarh government has decided to recruit transgender in the police force. The state police have started conducting workshops to facilitate applications from transgender. With this step, Chhattisgarh has become the first Indian state to do so.

The applicants are happy with the decision and have been propping up at the police parade ground here. They would be recruited under similar guidelines as other two genders.

"Just like other genders, we too wish to serve for the betterment of our country. We are happy with the decision of the state government and will leave no stone unturned to clear tests," said Divya, who is training with other transgender in the state capital to enter the police force.

Another aspirant, Sakshi, said, "Earlier we were afraid of the transgender community. We were told to stay away from them. However, now when we got to know them closely, we have realised that they are similar to us." In 2014, the Supreme Court declared transgender people as the third gender and ruled that they have equal privilege over the fundamental rights.