Selfless work does get noticed, sooner or later. Alia Milind Pawar can vouch for that. A report in mid-day and a sensitive officer did the magic for the transperson from Vasai East. Moved by her story of giving free tuition to slum children, the Vasai taluka tahsildar has contracted the 28-year-old science graduate as a computer operator in her office.

A resident of Khan Compound, Pawar is too thrilled to punch letters and numbers on the keyboard. “This was possible only because of mid-day. I will remain indebted to you for featuring me in your article. Despite studying B.Sc (microbiology) from my village in Ratnagiri, I was unable to get a job. I tried many, but none offered me an office job after learning that I am a transperson. Your report has changed my life,” Pawar told mid-day.