Madras University mulling to offer one free seat in each college for Transgenders

We are planning to allot at least one seat in each college for transgenders. This will ensure more transgenders pursue college education, the Madras University VC said.

Madras University mulling to offer one free seat in each college for Transgenders

With an aim to encourage transgenders to pursue higher education, Madras University has said that it is planning to allot a free seat to transgenders in all its affiliated colleges in the undergraduate courses from the academic year 2022-23.

At present, the varsity is already providing a free education scheme to poor students under which each college requires to give free admissions to a minimum of two students in undergraduate courses every year. 

“We are planning to allot at least one seat in each college for transgenders. This will ensure more transgenders pursue college education,” said S Gowri, vice-chancellor of the university. The university plans to get the approval of the syndicate committee in the next meeting for the proposal.

Last year, the university introduced a supernumerary seat in all postgraduate programmes in the university departments for transgenders. However, no transgender has joined the university departments. Loyola College admits one or two transgenders every year in its undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

While speaking on the same, the Vice-Chancellor said, “To encourage transgenders to join higher education, the university will waive the tuition fees for all transgenders joining in university from next academic year."

Under the free education scheme for poor students, the university enrolled 340 students from poor families in 131 affiliated and autonomous colleges last year. It will call for applications and select students for admissions under this category.

The same procedures are likely to be followed for transgenders as well.

“It is a welcoming move by the university. We need to admit more transgender students and should ensure they complete their courses and help them to get jobs so that they can get into mainstream,” said Thomas Amirtham, principal of Loyola College.

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