In an attempt to empower the transgender community (TDs), Tamil Nadu government announces free education for transgenders in Manonmaniam Sundaranar University on Thursday.
However, in April, the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) had announced that all institutions under its fold would provide free education to members of the community from this academic year. As per reports, the decision of free education was unanimously taken by its Syndicate.
It is also to be noted that this is the first time a university in India is coming forward to offer free education to transgenders. According to the resolution, over and above the sanctioned students’ strength for various undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) courses granted by the Standing Council for Academic Affairs, one seat would be allotted to a person from the transgender community in each course in their university and affiliated colleges.
Significantly, Tamil Nadu in India was the first state to introduce a transgender (hijra/ aravani) welfare policy. In additional effort to improve the education of transgender people, Tamil Nadu government also issued an order in May 2008 to create a third gender for admissions to government colleges.
In the month of April, K. Prithika Yashini, India’s first transgender to join a State police force in Tamil Nadu.
