Cuttack: : For transwoman activist Sony Sil, education is more than a means of personal advancement. It is a powerful instrument to secure dignity, equality and recognition for transgender community, she feels. And it is this power that helped her achieve a significant milestone towards inclusivity: introduction of a ‘transgender’ category in Odisha Administrative Services (OAS) application form.A resident of Cuttack, Sil says the move allows members of her community to appear for the prestigious examination with their true identity.“The process was not easy. I had to approach the Odisha Human Rights Commission and later high court,” says Sil who herself is preparing for the OAS examination, conducted by Odisha Public Service Commission. “If even one transperson qualifies the OAS exam in the next five years, it will open doors for many and, more importantly, change society’s perception towards us,” she adds.So far, only one transwoman has cleared the examination and that too after applying under the male category.An economics graduate from Utkal University, Sil believes structural change begins with access to opportunities. “Education gives us a voice and the confidence to claim our rights. Without it, we remain invisible,” she says.Currently working with the transgender cell under housing and urban development department, she is involved in bringing the transgender people to the mainstream vis-à-vis various govt initiatives.Born as Santosh Kumar Sil, she underwent gender-affirmation surgery nearly a decade ago and embraced her identity as Soni. Since then, she has been actively spreading awareness about rights and welfare schemes among transgender individuals.Sil’s journey has been far from easy. From classroom discrimination to lack of institutional support, she faced multiple barriers in continuing her education. “Even before the Nalsa judgment, I came out as a transperson. My college life was particularly difficult. I was ridiculed, ragged and even thrown out of classrooms because of my identity. I used to be called to student election campaigns so that people can gather in numbers to make fun of me,” she recalls.Despite these hardships, she found strength in support from her family. “Unlike many others, I was not asked to leave my home. I was good at studies and realized early that education was my only way out of this ridicule,” she says.Her experiences only strengthened her resolve to bring change. After graduation, she joined Cuttack Municipal Corporation’s Jaga Mission as a trainer and later served as a city mission manager in various civic projects.Over the years, Sil has collaborated with government departments and civil society organizations to push for inclusive policies. Her campaign for making competitive examinations more inclusive eventually led to the inclusion of the transgender category in the OAS application form.However, she emphasizes that the journey towards equality is far from complete. She advocates for scholarships and safe learning environment to prevent transgender students from dropping out. “Real empowerment is when a trans child can study like the others without any fear,” she said.