Mumbai University grants recognition to third gender in application forms

The third gender will find an identity in the application forms provided by the Mumbai University MU from the academic year of 201516 Following a University Grants Commission UGC order on the same topic university officials have decided to include transgenders as a separate category apart from male and female options on the admission forms This is a huge step towards accepting the transgender community as part of the societyTransgenders at a community gathering File photoldquoFrom the next academic year all admission forms provided by colleges affiliated to MU will have a separate identity Similarly all colleges will conduct sensitisation programmes for their students as well as staff members to welcome these students with open armsrdquo said Mrudul Nile director department of studentsrsquo welfare MU He added that the proposal was under discussion since 2014 ever since the Supreme Court order was made public through UGCUGC has recently opened all its scholarships to the third gender ldquoTransgender is a distinct identity and unique presence on the sociocultural map of the country We canrsquot ignore the fact that much remains to be done in order to ameliorate the discrimination and deprivation suffered by the Transgender Community in the Indian societyrdquo states the circular dated February 2 2015 In August 2014 following the Supreme Court judgment that slated an independent status to the third gender UGC had released a circular on their decision to include transgender people as a separate category for its scholarship and fellowship schemesThe SC judgment The SC in its judgment dated April 15 2014 asked the Centre to treat transgenders as socially and economically backward So they should be allowed admission in educational institutions and given employment on the basis of the fact that they belonged to the thirdgender category Colleges were also asked to construct separate toilets for the transgender within their campus The aim was to work towards eradicating the social stigma that this community usually facesWhile the infrastructure is just one part of the circular it also encourages research projects from academicians who can collaborate ethnographic research on the life and culture of the transgender community ldquoWe will award major research projects which will not only lead to a better understanding of the third gender subculture but also help dispel several myths pertaining to the community embedded in popular discourserdquo highlights the circular It further requests universities to encourage faculty members to come forward and take up such challenging and socially relevant research in the interest of academia as well as egalitarian societyldquoOur colleges not only need to look at sensitising students but also their staff One needs to ensure that our students do not feel out of place ever The good thing is that our students are already very awarerdquo said Indu Shahani principal of HR College and a member of the UGC committee that put together rules and regulations for colleges to follow in order to welcome the third gender into campusesldquoMore than identity on the admissions forms we have to also focus on putting in place the right infrastructure including provision of separate washrooms for the students as wellrdquo she addedNile highlighted that the process will be implemented slowly but colleges will have to incorporate the changes from the 201516 academic year itself