Transgenders to get free education at IGNOU

For transgenders desiring to pursue a course in tourism or psychology, help is right at hand. Encouraging the third gender to pursue higher studies, the Indira Gandhi National Open University(IGNOU) has decided to provide free education to transgenders from its July session. The move is aimed at bringing universalisation and democratisation in education. So far, IGNOU provided free education to sex workers, jail inmates and weavers.

According to regional director, Lucknow, Manorama Singh, free education to transgenders will be provided across the country. There are over 3,000 study centres and 54 regional centres in India. In UP alone, there are close to 150 study circles. "We have sought help from transgender activists. Our target is to get enrolled at least five transgenders this time. The idea is to promote education among the third gender," said Singh.

Officials said there is hardly any provision for transgenders to pursue a regular bachelor course in any university. Even if there is an option in the admission form for transgenders, they are shooed away as they lack formal documents. Transgenders enrolling in IGNOU for higher studies from IGNOU will be at edge as they don't have to provide any documents like transfer and migration certificates. Their identify can be verified by documents like Aadhar, or any certifiate issued by central government, state govenrment, medical officer or any other competent authority.

Singh said, like other students, transgenders can enrol in any programme of their choice, and all kind of help will be extended to them during the course tenure. IGNOU offers 228 academic and professional courses in psychology, social sciences, sciences, toursim, education, management, rural development and others.

Admissions at IGNOU for July session are already underway. The last date for applying for certificate programmes is July 16 while for other programmes, the last date is July 31.