For the first time in the Nehru Trophy Boat Race, transgender people will be part of a team serving as volunteers.
V.R. Krishna Teja, secretary of the Nehru Trophy Boat Race Society (NTBRS), said transgender people would be deployed to implement the green protocol during the 66th edition of the race to be held at the Punnamada Lake on August 11.
“I had a meeting with transgender people. I asked them why they couldn’t be part of the Nehru Trophy. They said they don’t go to watch the race owing to concerns about safety and security. This time around they are not going to come as spectators, but they will be part of the Nehru Trophy. We have decided to appoint them as volunteers and give them the task of implementing the green protocol. They will distribute cloth bags to tourists who come to watch the race,” Mr. Teja, who is also Sub Collector, Alappuzha, told The Hindu .
Mr. Teja said 15 transgender people had agreed to become volunteers so far.
The NTBRS has also come up with a number of innovative ideas to make this year’s race more professional. The volunteers will be dressed in green, yellow, red, blue and black coloured jerseys during the event. Those in green will be involved in activities related to green protocol. Yellow volunteers will take care of children and women. Volunteers in red jerseys will serve senior citizens and blue volunteers will provide care to the differently abled. Those in black will help everyone. The staff of various departments are being trained for the purpose, officials said.
Special facilities will be provided at the galleries for children and women. Separate seating facilities will be arranged along with snacks for senior citizens. The organisers have set up special ramps for the differently abled.
The excitement of Nehru Trophy has already gripped Alappuzha. Despite floods ravaging the district, especially Kuttanad, people are looking forward to the race. Boat clubs have started practising for the race.
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