DU GOES BEYOND IN BID FOR GENDER INCLUSIVITY
The upcoming admission cycle will see help desks and counselling for students of the third gender
It’s over three years after Delhi University threw open its gates to students of the third gender by adding the transgender option on its student application form, but the number of trans students enrolling in regular colleges, so far, has been dismal.
However, in an attempt to go beyond its regular attempts to introduce gender inclusivity on the campus, DU will conduct special counselling sessions and set up dedicated help desks for the third gender, in the admission cycle for the upcoming academic session. Taken by the university’s Department of Adult, Continuing Education, and Extension, the initiative aims to help transgender students applying for its regular courses. To make the process smoother, and to be able to deal with the matter sensitively, the university will enlist NGOs.
“We’ve already started oneon-one counselling for transgender applicants, and if everything goes as planned, the help desks will be up and running by July,” says professor Rajesh Kumar, one of the people behind the initiative.
And what do students of the third gender feel about the move? “I think the university’s intention and thought are very good, but I do hope that they execute it right,” says Neetu Singh, a third gender student at IGNOU. Singh is wary of how things would function onground, since she feels that DU tends to complicate processes. “The last time they asked us for medical certificates, name change certificates, paper cuttings of our name change, and so on. For a lot of trans students who’re undergoing transformation, procuring these documents is hard. I know so many people who withdrew their applications then,” recalls Singh.
Kabir Trivedi, a transgender student at Miranda House, and founder of Miranda House Queer Collective, feels that the university ought to rope in students and teachers. “I don’t know why the university’s Gender Sensitisation Cell (GSC) or other gender forums weren’t informed about the move. Enlisting the help of forums that already exist in the campus space would be better as we are aware of internal issues,” she says.
Trans-activist Rudrani Chhetri agrees. “I wonder how much counsellors or people from NGOs know, not just legally, but about the day-today issues of the community. There are community-specific issues that only insiders will know, so they should work with community-based organisations,” she opines.
Chhetri, does, however, think that the setting up of desks and counselling sessions will go a long way. “This is the perfect way to instill a sense of security in third-gender students, to show that they aren’t forgotten. Aise hi dheere-dheere unhe padhne ki aazadi milegi,” she says.
Suhas, a trans student, says, “As third gender, we have struggles that are unique to us. Acceptance is one worry, but legal aspects, someone who can guide us etc. are other things where help is needed. I am hopeful that this initiative will be of great help. I know for a trans student the paperwork is more, but that’s how it is. In fact, it’ll mitigate bogus admissions on our seats.”