INSTITUTE IN A FIX AT TRANSGENDER STUDENT’S HOSTEL REQUEST

KANPUR: The Harcourt Butler Technological Institute (HBTI) is in a quandary over an email request from a male student, who having undergone gender reassignment surgery, has sought a room in the girl’s hostel.

Institute director AK Nagpal received the email request from the student during February-end. “This is a very sensitive issue at our hands. I have discussed it many a times and may arrive at a solution soon,” he said.

The student, who enrolled for the Master of Computer Applications in July last year, was given a room in the boy’s hostel at the time of admission. The student has also asked that his gender be changed in the institute’s students’ records.

Though HBTI authorities want to keep the student’s identity a secret, the institute has made it clear the student will not be allotted a room in either of their hostel — in a bid to protect him from harassment. “There have been instances when students have committed suicide after being mocked by fellow students. We cannot take any chances,” said, deputy registrar SK Sharma.

The institute is currently planning to allot one quarter of Type-2 or Type 4, meant for employees and teachers, to the student “HBTI has two such houses in surplus. It is being proposed that the student be given the accommodation if the parents share the place and provide him support,” said Sharma.

HAIDAR NAQVI