Andhra Pradesh CID launched Swabhiman Transgender Persons Protection Helpline number 1091 in the CID office at Guntur on Wednesday.
The helpline, which was proposed by Andhra Pradesh CID additional DGP N Sanjay, aimed to protect the safety and dignity of transgender people by putting an end to violence, preventing discrimination against them, abuse and physical violence, protecting their rights, keeping track of cases of crimes against them, and taking legal action.
Women Protection Cell, SP, CID KGV Saritha is appointed as the nodal officer of the state level Transgender Persons Protection Cell.
Speaking to the media, Saritha said that the helpline will work in accordance with the Transgender Persons (Protection Rules) Act-2019 and the Transgender Persons (Protection Rules)-2023 through which they would analyse the complaints of transgender persons, counselling, taking legal action, and also undertaking sensitisation programmes.
She said that transgender persons should take advantage of this opportunity as it was a toll-free number and there would be no charges.
Vasireddy Padma, chairperson of the AP State Women’s Commission, said that the government had implemented many programmes for the advancement of transgender persons.
She said that it was very painful to make fun of transgender people, insult them, and use their disability as a curse to insult others in political terms.She stated that transgender people also had self-esteem, which is why the name of this helpline has been changed to ‘Swabhiman’.
