Five-fold rise in transgender student forms in DU, facilities remain nil

Last year, the varsity had received 15 applications from transgender students, while this year the number has reached 62, and that too, 10 days before the closure of registration process.​
Five-fold rise in transgender student forms in DU, facilities remain nil

NEW DELHI: Even though the Delhi University has seen a five-fold increase in the number of applications from transgender candidates as compared to the last year, the varsity still lacks in providing proper facilities to these students.

Last year, the varsity had received 15 applications from transgender students, while this year the number has reached 62, and that too, 10 days before the closure of registration process. But, of the 15 candidates, only two were enrolled in the university last year because there is no reservation policy for them.   

Three years back the university had introduced the ‘third gender’ category in its admission forms. But despite the Supreme Court’s order, the varsity colleges have failed to make arrangements for separate toilets for these students.

Meanwhile, the Panjab University in Chandigarh has started constructing a separate toilet for transgender students.

As far as Jawaharlal Nehru University is considered, it also has the provision of giving five marks to transgender candidates under the deprivation point system to ensure their admission into the varsity. But, there is no such provision in DU.

Moreover, following SC order in August 2015, the University Grants Commission (UGC) had asked all central universities to form expert committee and equal opportunity cell to address the issues related to transgenders in every college. But these facilities are still a dream in DU.

“Providing ‘Others’ option in form is a compulsion for them, otherwise they only think that we transgenders are best suited to beg. There is no space for people like us in the system,” said Ram, a transgender student.

When asked about the changes in DU admission policy for the transgenders, DU Registrar Tarun Das said, “We treat all students equally by providing them facilities such as books, library, classroom and among others. There is no separate policy for transgender students at the university level,” said.

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