TN college, univ introduce 3rd gender option
Adarsh Jain
|
Chennai:
TNN
|
In a first, two Tamil Nadu
institutes -Madras Christian College (MCC) in Chennai and Bharathidasan
University in Trichy -have introduced the third gender option in
application forms for students. The Supreme Court on April 15 ruled
that transgenders could seek admission to educational institutes and
workplaces under the `third gender' category.
Though MCC and Bharathidasan are yet to receive the first application from the community , the latter is considering introducing scholarships for them as well. Tamil Nadu has a welfare board for transgenders and recog nizes their sex in ration cards. Madras Christian College in Chennai and Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli, also in Tamil Nadu, now offer `transgender' as a third option in college application forms.
The Supreme Court on April 15 recognized transgender people as the third gender who could be admitted to educational institutes and workplaces under the category . Tamil Nadu has been a pioneer in recognizing the rights of transgender community , establishing an exclusive welfare board for them and giving the `T' option in ration cards.
MCC and Bharathidasan University , however, are yet to receive the first application from the community that is believed to be 30,000strong in the state. Colleges in the state have been accepting applications for more than a week. “It's too early,“ said an admission officer at MCC. “We will have to wait for a response from transgender candidates.“
Bharathidasan University registrar E Ramaganesh said the institution was also considering scholarships for transgender students.
“We are happy to have taken the lead. The admission process will continue till June 2 and we are eager to see how many register under the category ,“ he said.
Some transgenders who came up the hard way through the higher education system are happy about the development but also sceptical. “It's a welcome move, but I don't expect the third gender rushing to colleges all of a sudden. Maybe in a year or two, the numbers will improve,“ said Rose Venkatesan, the first transgender television host who had studied in Loyola College, Chennai.
Jaya, a transgender activist who works with the NGO Sahodaran, felt the inclusion of the third category in appilcation forms would help reduce dropout rates.
“Others often make fun of transgender students, forcing them to drop out. This move should help the community get a good education,“ she said.
Though MCC and Bharathidasan are yet to receive the first application from the community , the latter is considering introducing scholarships for them as well. Tamil Nadu has a welfare board for transgenders and recog nizes their sex in ration cards. Madras Christian College in Chennai and Bharathidasan University in Tiruchirappalli, also in Tamil Nadu, now offer `transgender' as a third option in college application forms.
The Supreme Court on April 15 recognized transgender people as the third gender who could be admitted to educational institutes and workplaces under the category . Tamil Nadu has been a pioneer in recognizing the rights of transgender community , establishing an exclusive welfare board for them and giving the `T' option in ration cards.
MCC and Bharathidasan University , however, are yet to receive the first application from the community that is believed to be 30,000strong in the state. Colleges in the state have been accepting applications for more than a week. “It's too early,“ said an admission officer at MCC. “We will have to wait for a response from transgender candidates.“
Bharathidasan University registrar E Ramaganesh said the institution was also considering scholarships for transgender students.
“We are happy to have taken the lead. The admission process will continue till June 2 and we are eager to see how many register under the category ,“ he said.
Some transgenders who came up the hard way through the higher education system are happy about the development but also sceptical. “It's a welcome move, but I don't expect the third gender rushing to colleges all of a sudden. Maybe in a year or two, the numbers will improve,“ said Rose Venkatesan, the first transgender television host who had studied in Loyola College, Chennai.
Jaya, a transgender activist who works with the NGO Sahodaran, felt the inclusion of the third category in appilcation forms would help reduce dropout rates.
“Others often make fun of transgender students, forcing them to drop out. This move should help the community get a good education,“ she said.
