Salve waiting for official nod for sex change

Mumbai: Despite chief minister Devendra Fadnavis giving Beed constable Lalita Salve (29) his consent to undergo a Sex Reassignment Surgery (SRS), she has not yet received any kind of written confirmation from the government. State home minister Dr Ranjit Patil said that he is checking facts from his department regarding her file. Salve was  part of Beed’s all-women squad. However, once she realised about the under developed male organs in her body, she applied for a sex change operation.

Salve’s file is lying with the law and judiciary department, which also give its green signal for her SRS. After surgery, Salve can continue in service as a male constable. Salve’s case should be taken into account positively and treated as a 'special case,’ the department had expressed.

 Talking to The Asian Age, Dr Patil, who also heads the state law and judiciary department, said, “I need to check her case and find out where exactly her file is stuck. We have to verify all the details. Her case is special, will consider her plea accordingly.” Meanwhile Salve remains hopeful. “I have submitted all my required papers to all the departments. It is good news for me that government is considering my plea but till now nothing has fallen in my hand.”

While talking to this paper, Arjun Ujgare, Salve’s uncle said, “We have submitted all the required documents to all the departments and are following the matter since a couple of months. But till now, we have not received any written assurance from any government’s department.” Ujgare added, “We need a written document which states that she can undergo SRS without loosing her job. We would be very much obliged if we get such a letter from the CM, who has agreed to consider her plea.”