Following the landmark judgment by the Supreme Court in 2014 to recognise transgenders as the third gender, the Delhi University had introduced “other” category in its application forms, allowing the third gender students to apply for admission. In spite of the move, prejudice against the transgender students still exists in the varsity. Two years on, no action has been taken by DU in order to create a cohesive environment for these students.
Twenty-four-year-old Varsha, a second year student of B.Com. in the university’s School of Open Learning, North Campus, feels it is a nightmare to study in the varsity. Many like her feel that the varsity is still far behind in providing an inclusive environment for the third gender students, which forces them to pursue studies through distance mode or drop out entirely.
The university still lacks in infrastructure, including unisex toilets and grievance redressal committees for the third gender students, according to Prof. Rajesh Kumar, of the department of adult, continuing education and extension, the only department that conducts research and community outreach programme for the third gender students.
In order to sensitise general students and faculty members towards transgender students in the varsity, the department of adult, continuing education and extension will for the first time conduct a formal orientation programme and sensitisation programme in July. “The university needs to have an equal opportunity cell as well as a students’ welfare society for transgender students, just like general students, to address their problems,” he said.
In an unfortunate trend, the university this year received only 35 applications in the other gender category, including both postgraduate and undergraduate courses, a significant decline compared to 66 applicants last year. However, as per the study conducted by adult education department, none of the applicants joined regular college in 2015 because either they did not meet the cut-off or because they did not find the facilities and attitudes welcoming.
The university does not have any separate cut-off criteria for such candidates so they have to compete with general category students in order to apply for courses like social science, arts or languages. “Inability to pay fees is another important reason that such students are unable to complete their higher education. Since they belong to economically weak background and most of them do not have biological parents so they take loan from their gurus,” Prof. Kumar said.
The transgender students admitted that the fear of lewd comments by their batchmates forces them to end up studying in the School of Open Learning or opt for distance mode.
Varsha said she had directly applied for SOL due to the fear of getting abused and harassed in a college. “But applying for SOL has made no difference, because I am facing the same situation due to which I have stopped attending classes. Even if I go on Sunday, nobody sits with me because they see me as a hijra. They pass comments like ‘Tum log toh sex workers ho, toh padhke kya karoge usi se paisa kamao.’ Even teachers behave rudely with me, saying, ‘Tum log padhai karke kya karoge, yahan ka mahaul mat kharab karo.’ That is the reason I started taking tuition at home,” she said.
Another transgender student, Sanjana, said, “Listening to comments became unbearable and I was forced to dress up like a boy. I feel sad that the university has introduced the column for us on paper, but in reality there is nothing that is being done for us.”
On the contrary, Hindu College principal Anju Srivastav said, “We are very liberal and open about having third gender students in our college. Last year, according to my knowledge we did not have any student from the other category, but we have made sure that if such students face any kind of harassment they can come to the counselling cell we have set up for other students. We do not have any special arrangements for such students, but we do conduct sensitisation workshops for such students.”
“No specific policy such as reservation, percentage benefit or infrastructure upgrades have been discussed as of now. We are in support of this system, but there is still a lack of initiative from the university,” said Aryabhatta College principal and a member of the admissions committee Manoj Sinha.
The top court had ruled that those in the third gender category will be considered as OBCs. However, there has been no notification from the government. “If the third gender students achieve the OBC status, then they would benefit in terms of reservation of seats in colleges and relaxation in the cut-off criteria. The colleges have even planned to take affidavits from the students, saying that they are being trained under their gurus. However, just like SC and ST certificates even their certificates issued under the government or any agency would be considered by the university,” said Prof. Kumar.
