Chennai Corporation hires transgender person from Vellore as drone operator

The Greater Chennai Corporation has appointed 19-year-old E. Prem, a transperson from Vellore, for flying drones used to spray larvicide for mosquito control in the corporation. The corporation had adopted a resolution to this effect in its council meeting on Tuesday (June 28).

TN City Desk

Updated Jun 29, 2022, 12:42 IST

Drones used to spray larvicide in Chennai

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Chennai: The Greater Chennai Corporation has appointed 19-year-old E. Prem, a transperson from Vellore, for flying drones used to spray larvicide for mosquito control in the corporation. The body which plans on hiring more such operators in the future will give preference to transgender people for the positions.

Though the corporation needs seven drone operators for spraying the mosquito larvicide currently two, including Prem, will be hired. However, the remaining five positions will also be filled in the near future and transpersons will be given preference for the same.

The corporation had adopted a resolution to this effect in its council meeting on Tuesday (June 28). The appointment of the drone operator is on a contract basis. Prem will start work in July and will be paid a consolidated amount of Rs 25,000 as his monthly salary, corporation officials said.

E. Prem received his drone-flying training at the Remote Pilot Training Organisation in Chennai which is operated and led by retired wing commander K.R. Srikanth.

The retired wing commander has trained 15 transpersons in drone operating and has helped them land jobs in various places. The trainees were identified by K.R. Srikanth with the help NGOs that are working for the rights of the transgender community.

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