In order to promote education among the third gender, the Delhi University for the first time has decided to start a “Third Gender Resource centre for career counselling” for the upcoming academic session 2018-19.
The brain behind this innovative idea is Professor Rajesh, Department of Adult, Continuing Education, and Extension. He was also one of the active members of the Union Ministry of Social Justice’s committee and worked on many issues related to transgender education.
The third gender category was introduced in the varsity in 2015. But, according to sources, not a single student has taken admission since. “A large number register themselves for regular colleges but no one takes admission there. Transgender students enrol themselves in the School of Open Learning (SoL) where they hide their identity. Because the students do not feel comfortable among the others, so this time we have decided to provide counselling and other facilities to make them more comfortable and free to ask questions, clear their doubts about the education,” says Professor Rajesh.
The Department of Adult, Continuing Education, and Extension is in talks with the many Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) which work extensively on transgender education. With the help of these NGOs, the university will set up a help-desk to provide special counselling on higher education. It will also organise workshops, gender sensitisations programs and present documentary films in different department and colleges of Delhi University to motivate students and teachers to create a welcoming, gender-free environment for the newcomers especially the transgender students who often feel alone among the other students.
“It is very important to encourage these students to study and get admission. Everyone has the Right to Education and Livelihood in this country, so we should encourage them for higher education. Counselling will help the students as we will also approach them personally,” he said.
The University of Delhi had around 100 transgender students register for admission to Undergraduate (UG) admission. But none took admission in regular colleges due to lack of facility and sensitivity among the students and teachers.
