Dhenkanal Municipality Empowers Transgender Workers
Aryan Singh | IIMC Dhenkanal | Sep 30, 2025, 00:46 IST
In a groundbreaking move, the Dhenkanal Municipality has embraced diversity by hiring transgender women to enhance its waste management efforts. Six dedicated individuals are currently employed at the Mahisapada centre, where they expertly sort plastics while earning a steady monthly income. This initiative not only promotes financial security for a marginalized community but also fosters greater social acceptance.
In a commendable initiative towards inclusive employment, the Dhenkanal Municipality has taken a progressive step by hiring transgender women at its Material Collection and Recovery (MCC & MRF) Centre in Mahisapada. At present, six transgender employees are working at the wealth centre, where their primary responsibility is to segregate plastics from the waste brought in for processing.
Unlike daily wage workers, they have been formally recruited by the municipal corporation, with a fixed monthly salary of ₹14,850 directly credited to their bank accounts. Their working hours are from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., ensuring both financial stability and a structured routine. This regular income has not only given them financial security but also a sense of belonging in mainstream society. Officials emphasize that the move not only enhances the municipality’s solid waste management process but also brings dignity, stability, and social recognition to the lives of transgender persons who were earlier excluded from conventional employment opportunities.
Previously, many of these individuals struggled with unemployment and were often forced into petty thefts or irregular activities due to lack of opportunities and social stigma. Today, however, they are financially independent, contributing productively to the community, and setting an example of resilience, self-reliance, and inclusion.
The initiative reflects a broader social vision—where governance is not only about service delivery but also about extending opportunities to marginalized groups. By creating permanent space for transgender persons in the waste management workforce, Dhenkanal Municipality has demonstrated how inclusive policies can empower individuals while simultaneously strengthening essential civic systems.
![Transgender Workers]()
Unlike daily wage workers, they have been formally recruited by the municipal corporation, with a fixed monthly salary of ₹14,850 directly credited to their bank accounts. Their working hours are from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., ensuring both financial stability and a structured routine. This regular income has not only given them financial security but also a sense of belonging in mainstream society. Officials emphasize that the move not only enhances the municipality’s solid waste management process but also brings dignity, stability, and social recognition to the lives of transgender persons who were earlier excluded from conventional employment opportunities.
Previously, many of these individuals struggled with unemployment and were often forced into petty thefts or irregular activities due to lack of opportunities and social stigma. Today, however, they are financially independent, contributing productively to the community, and setting an example of resilience, self-reliance, and inclusion.
The initiative reflects a broader social vision—where governance is not only about service delivery but also about extending opportunities to marginalized groups. By creating permanent space for transgender persons in the waste management workforce, Dhenkanal Municipality has demonstrated how inclusive policies can empower individuals while simultaneously strengthening essential civic systems.
Transgender Workers