A trans woman’s journey in revival of helpdesk at Gachibowli police station

Transgender counsellor Tushti Pinky who is the driving force behind the revival of transgender help centre at the Gachibowli police station

Tushti Pinky’s story begins in the quiet town of Bhadrachalam in Telangana, where she grew up navigating the challenges of life as a trans woman. A Bachelor of Commerce graduate, Pinky is now the driving force behind the revival of the transgender help desk—a safe space that had once fallen into neglect at Gachibowli police station. Her determination and insight to community’s struggles have breathed new life into the initiative, giving renewed hope to those seeking to rebuild their lives.

Shut and revived

The Vikalp Centre at the Gachibowli police station is a new initiative by the Cyberabad police in collaboration with Prajwala Foundation, an anti-trafficking non-government organisation. It replaces the earlier transgender community help desk, inaugurated in March 2021 as the country’s first to address transgender issues, which became defunct over time.

Transgender counsellor Tushti Pinky who is the driving force behind the revival of transgender help centre at the Gachibowli police station
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement

The desk became operational in the last week of February 2025, amid rise in the cases of extortion and prostitution in various zones of the commissionerate, including Allapur, Madhapur, Kukatpally, and Gachibowli. Since its relaunch, over 40 transgender individuals rescued from prostitution rackets have already been counselled.

Transgender counsellor Tushti Pinky who is the driving force behind the revival of transgender help centre at the Gachibowli police station
| Photo Credit:
Lavpreet Kaur

Guidance to secure jobs

For many, Pinky’s presence as a transwoman has made all the difference. “Community members are more open about sharing their concerns when they see someone who understands their journey. They are also more confident about expressing their goals, and we can guide them towards the right kind of jobs,” says Pinky.

She spent eight years working with a transgender community NGO, where she earned ₹8,000 per month, before joining the Vikalp centre at Meerpet in August 2024. Her success at Meerpet led to the launch of the Gachibowli centre. She now earns ₹20,000 per month.

Work hours aligns with police rescue operations

Pinky, who currently lives in Suraram, starts her day around 10 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., enduring a 2.5-hour bus journey to reach the Meerpet police station by 1 p.m., where she works from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. On alternate days, she heads to the Gachibowli police station, where her shift runs from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., aligning with police rescue operations that are often conducted in the evening.

Counselling three – four individuals daily, she is also working to hire two transgender counsellors to take up responsibilities at the Gachibowli help desk. Despite the exhausting schedule and long commutes, Pinky says her work brings her a sense of peace and fulfilment, knowing she is helping others find their footing.

Training to lead independent lives

Once the rescued individuals are brought in, Pinky engages with them. “I start by asking about their wellbeing and offering them water, snacks, and tea,” she said. “As they begin to feel at ease, they slowly open up about their struggles, and the conversation starts to flow naturally.”

But the work at Vikalp goes beyond counselling. Rescued individuals are trained to lead independent lives through sessions on job interviews, personality development, and financial literacy. “Their training covers everything from dressing sense to social and soft skills, technical knowledge, career planning, and financial management,” explained Yettam Sanjeevulu, in-charge of the centre.

Many of the rescued individuals come from strong educational backgrounds, including MBBS, BCom, and B. Tech graduates, while over 50% have completed their intermediate education. Despite their qualifications, they were forced into prostitution rackets to survive, highlighting the need for sustainable career opportunities.

Cyberabad Women and Children Safety Wing DCP Srujana Karnam, who oversees the initiative, highlighted the growing support from the corporate sector. “Several IT companies within the commissionerate have offered jobs in security, maintenance, and driving roles, and some have shown interest in hiring them for technical and administrative positions. Some rescued persons are currently preparing for their interviews,” she said.

Of the 40 individuals rescued so far, four have shown interest in starting their own businesses, while three to four others are preparing to work as beauticians and makeup artists. “Our aim is to make the transgender community aware of the opportunities available and give them the confidence to build a stable future,” Pinky said.