A two-minute awareness video The Seatbelt Crew shot at a traffic light in Mumbai has gone viral, garnering more than 3.4 million hits on YouTube. In the video, a group of transgenders dressed as flight attendants give motorists a basic (and hilarious) safety demonstration on how to wear a seatbelt.
The District Commissioner of East Delhi has engaged them in creating traffic awareness in the national Capital. Often seen begging at traffic signals and considered a nuisance by many, eunuchs now will teach motorists in Capital to belt up, airline crew style. With their trademark flair and wit, the hijras dressed like cabin crew will not only remind Delhi about a lifesaving safety procedure, but also bring a smile to your face.
These specially trained eunuchs will be paid Rs500 each every day and will be stationed in key intersections of East Delhi. They will give daily lessons on road safety between 3 pm and 8 pm on key intersections of busy Vikas Marg in trans-Yamuna area.
As a pilot project, East District Magistrate has hired eight eunuchs from a non-profit organisation Pahel Welfare Society working towards improvement of transgender community.
Surat Police had recently undertaken a similar exercise and earlier, police in Mumbai and Chennai as well. Eunuchs have also been roped in in Madhya Pradesh for the Clean India campaign.
On the launch of road safety campaign on Tuesday evening, members of the
transgender community were seen advising pedestrians to use the zebra crossing and perils of jaywalking.
For safety of women, the fairer sex was educated to take pictures of autos and taxis before boarding, make a note of the mobile no. of the driver and inform friends and family. They were also seen giving pearls of wisdom to bikers to always wear crash helmets when in the saddle and to never ride drunk. They were seen addressing a captive audience of drivers at a red light on the importance of belting up. Your car doesn’t have an oxygen mask. Under your seat you won’t find a life jacket. But you do have a seatbelt, the eunuchs intone. So why aren’t you wearing it, honeyIJ You want me to teach youIJ Members of the group performed coordinated dance movements while advising gawping motorists and commuters.
District Commissioner (East Delhi) Kunal told The Pioneer that the idea was borrowed from Surat and Mumbai to involve transgender community to regulate traffic and inculcate road rules. Wednesday onwards, wrapped in striking blue sarees with black border, eight members of the transgender community will be seen broadcasting road safety messages on the key intersection of Vikas Marg. They have been trained
at the Government accredited Institute of Driver Training and Research (IDTR). According to Kunal, the eight-member team of transgenders who are involved in the project, has been given the name of Hum Hain Abhaya. Oddly enough, senior officials of Delhi Government and Delhi Police were conspicuous by their absence.