Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) is up with a surprise package for transgenders who are deprived of dignity and respect from the society since ages. India’s largest University, IGNOU is now offering free education to transgenders as it has decided to waive off full fees for the applicants who are transgenders and wish to pursue under graduation or post graduation or a vocational course.
IGNOU offers free education to students of transgender community
People are appreciating IGNOU for thinking in the direction of empowering the entire transgender community. Many activists in support of transgenders have even taken it to the social media thanking the Vice Chancellor of IGNOU for the great decision. The man behind this great initiative Ravindra Kumar, Vice-Chancellor, IGNOU announced the fee waiver for transgenders in order to offer them better prospects for higher education via open and distance-learning programs.
IGNOU admission process for transgenders and last date to apply
Post decision, IGNOU has witnessed a significant increase in the number of enrollments by transgender students. The admission at IGNOU is still going on and the university has by far received 100 applications from transgender students. The Vice Chancellor of IGNOU is expecting over 500 candidates who will get enrolled in various courses this from this academic year after he had made the announcement of waiving off full fees. Last year, there were only 20 students of the transgender community who had enrolled themselves in IGNOU courses. To apply for various undergraduate/ post graduate/ vocational courses with full fee waive off, candidates of transgender descendants can apply until July 31.
Documents required for transgenders seeking admission in IGNOU
Candidates of transgender community will have to present a valid identity proof issued by the Central Government or the State Government or Aadhaar card. Those who do not own either of these valid IDs can show document issued by the medical officer as transgenders were recognized the third gender in India in 2014. The ID proof is the criteria set to keep away fraudulent.
IGNOU introduced the category of the third gender in their admission procedure in the year 2012 two years before transgenders officially got recognition by the Supreme Court as another gender. The scheme of free education to transgenders by IGNOU will help the entire community to evolve as normal and empowered citizen as many of these don’t even hold a certificate of class 12 or a graduate. They can now hold a certificate in any vocational program and can earn a living for their own with dignity and pride.
Source:indianexpress.com
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