India is renowned for its ‘unity in diversity,’ yet gender discrimination remains a pervasive issue. This challenge is particularly pronounced in Haryana, where societal attitudes often marginalize and demean transgenders. Overcoming these biases is crucial for achieving true inclusivity and upholding the principles of unity in diversity.In this regard, the Haryana government has come up with a new initiative to have a special vision towards the transgender students and under this, to promote the transgender students in the educational institutions of the state, a body has been formed which will work towards providing them better education. The nodal officer of the body has also been appointed who is believed to hold a high-level meeting with the government pertaining to the outline for the welfare of students of the transgender community studying in the educational institutions of the state. In this regard, conferences, lectures and workshops will be organized in educational institutions. Apart from this, such events will also be organized outside the educational institutions and resource persons and experts having knowledge about the problems and solutions of transgender students will also be called for lectures.
It is a noticeable fact that transgenders students have to fight on multiple fronts simultaneously. Once their identity gets disclosed, they are abandoned by their families and later become victims of complete neglect. Further, they are in dire need of resources required for studies. An official of the department said that normally they are not in a position to afford the course fee. Apart from this, they are also in need of study material, books, clothes, accomodation facility along with daily needs which is a matter of serious concern. This is also the most important aspect that people use to have an inferiority complex for them which is not fair. Apart from this, there is large-scale discrimination against transgender students.
Thus, forming a body for transgender students’ welfare, the government has made a good effort for transgender students to get them enrolled or completed their education under the Right to Education Act. Amid this, it is very surprising that only five transgender students are enrolled in colleges of the state. Out of these five students, three are studying in government colleges of Hisar, Jind and Karnal districts of the state while two students are enrolled in aided colleges in Faridabad and Kaithal. It is evident from the abovementioned data that additional efforts need to be made to get transgender students enrolled in educational institutions who wish to study so that they can be brought into the mainstream and get equal status.
Dr Sukhwinder Singh who holds the portfolio of Nodal Officer for transgender students’ welfare said that the government has assigned him the responsibility for the welfare of transgender students and give them equal status without any discrimination in the educational institutions. In wake of this, all efforts will be made to ensure the same by making other students aware about this through lectures, seminars, workshops and other mediums. Other people will also be made aware that transgender students also have the right to study like other students. Notably,
Haryana Government has recently constituted a state level transgender cell under the chairmanship of the Director General of Police Shatrujit Kapoor . Apart from this, other members of the cell include Additional Director General of Police, Crime against Women and Children, Director General, Social Justice Empowerment, Welfare and Antyodaya (Services) Department of SC and BC and two members.