Jorhat college in Assam welcomes Transgender students

Apart from a new gender option of “transgender” in the admission form, students can also choose whether they believe in religion or not. Probably a first-of-its-kind move in the North-East, Jorhat college has taken an important step towards gender equality.

Jorhat College (amalgamated) took an inspirational step and opened its doors for transgender students. The move is probably the first of its kind in the north-east and will enable the third gender to become a part of mainstream society.

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The admission forms for the next academic year of the college will have a new option in the gender section. Apart from male and female, students can now choose transgender or third gender.

Photo source: www.jorhatcollege.in

Not only this, an orientation programme for teachers and students will also be organized to make the students more welcoming and open to the change.

The authorities of the college came to this decision after a discussion and consultation with the staff and the students who unanimously supported the important step.

“However, to implement a new policy on a matter which is treated as taboo in society, sensitization on the issue is necessary. Hence, the women and gender cells of the college along with students’ union will be organising sensitisation sessions on the matter soon,” told Devabrata Sharma to The Telegraph.

The college authority wants to make sure that when the transgenders join the course and introduce themselves, they should get a very “positive and normal” reaction from both students and faculty.

The college has also made it a point to introduce religious preferences in the form and have come up with believer and non-believer column in the admission form which will give liberty to students to choose whether they believe in religion or not.

The college, which was established in 1962, is surely going one step ahead when it comes to gender equality. We hope to see many more educational institutions taking such crucial steps and give the right respect and opportunities to the third gender.

Check out Jorhat College’s website for more details.

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