Swapna (22) is probably the first transgender IAS aspirant in the Temple City. Though it was not her childhood aspiration, even winning self-respect proved to be a struggle for her. Swapna begs for a livelihood as she is unable to find a job, though she has a BCA degree and is well-versed in typewriting and DTP. Dejected, Swapna approached District Collector U Sagayam seeking a job as an anganwadi worker and it was he who encouraged her to prepare for the civil service examination. Swapna said even her family deserted her once they came to know that she was a transgender. “I scored 1,021 marks in Class XII and stood third in Tamil subject in the district, my family started ill-treating me.”