Chennai university offers free education to transgenders

In a progressive move, the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) of Chennai recently announced that the members of the transgender community get fee education from this academic year. All the institutes affiliated with the university will provide free of cost education to transgender people. This is a step towards ending discrimination and empowering the members of this community.

The Syndicate of the university unanimously took the decision and passed a resolution to implement the same. As per this new resolution, over and above the Standing Council for Academic Affairs granted students’ strength in different undergraduate and post-graduate courses, there will be one seat for one transgender person in every course offered by the university and colleges affiliated with it. 

Apart from offering free of cost education, the syndicate also decided to make separate restrooms for transgender students in all its institutions, reported a leading daily.

This decision has been welcomed by many including transgender activist and also the founder of Sahodari Foundation, Kalki Subramaniam. However, Kalki is critical about separate restrooms, which is as discriminatory. 

She stated that the community need inclusiveness and the transgender people are comfortable using ladies restroom, the New Indian Express quoted her as saying. However, she further added that the free of cost education is a commendable move and more universities should follow the suit. 

• Transgender community
• Transgender
• Transgenders
• Manonmaniam Sundaranar University