'I have struggled a lot', says Riya Sarkar, India's first transgender presiding officer

Riya Sarkar, India's first transgender presiding officer, says she is very proud of the decision to preside over a polling booth, insisting that she had to go through a lot of struggle.

"I am very proud that my decision is very right. I have struggled a lot to be here," Sarkar.

Sarkar presided as the election officer at a polling booth in South Kolkata on Saturday for the fifth phase of the West Bengal assembly elections.

"I am very thankful to all election commission officers who gave me right to vote. The voters are cooperating and their response is good," says Riya.

The 29-year-old transgender woman says that it is a big honour not only for me but for the entire transgender community.

"I am very happy and proud on being given this task by the Election Commission," she said.

It is reported that around twenty-four transgenders have been picked as polling officials in this election and Sarkar is the only government employee.

A total of 758 third-gender voters are exercising their franchise in this election in the state which has 6.5 crore voters.