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

A help desk for transgender community was revived at Gachibowli police station, providing counselling, training, and job opportunities for rescued individuals in Telangana.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.