Transgender Chosen As Icon For Telangana Election Commission
Laila completed her Master's degree in Sociology from Kakatiya University in Warangal
Hyderabad: For the first time in Telangana, a 43-year-old transgender Oruganti Laila, who runs a non-government organisation (NGO) -- Modern Awareness Society (MAS), has been selected as the State Icon of the Telangana Election Commission.
Laila completed her Master's degree in Sociology from Kakatiya University in Warangal and started an NGO to unite the transgenders across the state to fight for their rights. After becoming an Icon for the Telangana State Election Commission, Laila started creating awareness about enrolment in the voters list among the transgenders and the importance of elections and exercising their franchise.
The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Vikas Raj said that they have selected many icons for the State Election Commission to create awareness among the people about the need to vote. "We also selected Oruganti Laila from Warangal as one among the State Icons of Election Commission and she started mingling with people in ensuring enrolment of voters. We have an option to enrol the names of transgenders as voters. Laila will work to create awareness among the transgenders and get them enrolled as voters. She also started working with the district election officers," the CEO said.
Laila said that she has experience in fighting for transgenders’ rights and that she was interested in participating in programmes related to the Election Commission. "I met a number of transgenders in the state and created awareness among them to enrol their names as voters. The government has given a chance for transgenders to vote recognising them as citizens and we have to make more transgenders as voters in Telangana," Laila said.
She also said that she took part in several short films and advertisements made for creating awareness on enrolment of votes and attended meetings along with district collectors on voter enrolment.
"It is the best moment in my life to be selected as an Icon of the Election Commission. The officials also consider my suggestions in creating programmes related to elections," Laila added.