Maharashtra State Policy guidelines 2024: Transgender cell made mandatory in colleges, to ensure inclusivity, prevent bias
Days after the state government cleared the comprehensive policy for the transgender community, the higher and technical education department on Friday issued compliance guidelines for universities and all higher education institutions.
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The Government Resolution (GR) issued by the department states that non-compliance will lead to action, especially if any institution denies admission based on gender. (File)All colleges in Maharashtra will now mandatorily have a transgender cell to ensure an inclusive academic atmosphere on campus. Each university will need to have a dedicated cell and a coordinator to work on providing counselling and career academic guidance facilities particularly for transgender students. Institutions offering hostel facilities should now have a section for transgender students.
Days after the state government cleared the comprehensive policy for the transgender community, the higher and technical education department on Friday issued compliance guidelines for universities and all higher education institutions.
Activists from the field have welcomed the move but have questioned the ‘top-to-bottom’ approach. According to them, the awareness must begin at school level to ensure more of them reach higher education.
The Government Resolution (GR) issued by the department states that non-compliance will lead to action, especially if any institution denies admission based on gender.
Transgender cells in colleges will work as watchdogs, particularly ensuring there is no discrimination against transgender students on campus. “The cells at college levels will work toward eradicating prejudice or discrimination against transgender students. It has to create awareness against any mental or sexual harassment of transgender students,” states the GR, adding that the university level cell will have a more comprehensive approach.
The university level cell will have a coordinator dedicated to work on awareness and sensitisation along with providing facilities to transgender candidates such as counselling and career guidance etc.
In December last year, Maharashtra’s higher and technical education department had already declared fee-waiver for transgender candidates seeking higher education. It asked respective universities to bear the expenditure. At that time, it was assured that a more comprehensive set of guidelines were in the pipeline to ensure inclusive campuses for transgenders to have equal access to higher education.
LGBTQ activist Bindumadhav Khire, who is Director of Bindu Queer Rights Foundation, said, “On a positive note, awareness is finally sprouting at some stage. But due to the unfriendly and hostile environment in schools several transgenders drop out of mainstream education.”
Celebrated transgender activist Shreegauri Sawant also pointed out at higher chances of dropout among transgenders while in schools. “Such steps are more required at school-levels, so that a greater number of transgenders reach the stage of gaining access to higher education.”
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