Promote dignity, improve safety: Telangana Police’s WSW inks MoU with Yugantar to help LGBTQIA+ community

Hyderabad: Women Safety Wing (WSW) of Telangana Police has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Yugantar, a Bengaluru-based non-profit organisation, to promote dignity and improve the safety of the LGBTQIA+ community in the state.

The MoU is aimed at enhancing services under the ‘Pride Place – Transgender (LGBTQIA+) Persons Protection Cell. This is also a part of WSW's efforts towards inclusive policing.

Focus on Inclusive Policing and Support

According to an official release, this partnership aims to promote dignity, improve safety, and access to services for transgender and LGBTQIA+ persons across the state. Officials said the MoU marks a progressive initiative towards ensuring an inclusive approach within the police force while extending dedicated support to vulnerable communities.

Collaborative services under the MoU

Under the agreement, Telangana Police and Yugantar will work together to provide crisis intervention, legal aid, mental health support, police training, and public awareness programmes. The Women's Safety Wing emphasised that these measures will help in addressing the unique challenges faced by transgender persons and other gender minorities.

Yugantar to extend expertise through support centre

Yugantar, which operates a queer-trans wellness and support centre in Hyderabad, will extend its expertise, trained personnel, and infrastructure to assist the transgender protection cell in delivering its services effectively, the release added.

Step towards a more inclusive state

Officials stated that this initiative is part of Telangana Police’s broader commitment to ensure safety, respect, and equal rights for all communities. The collaboration will also focus on sensitising police personnel to the concerns of LGBTQIA+ persons, thereby fostering a more inclusive environment within law enforcement agencies.