While on one hand we see people getting discriminated and deprived of their basic rights for being transgenders, there are some Good Samaritans who go that extra mile to help them fight for their rights. For instance, the Madras HC has been very supportive of this largely ignored community and is doing every possible thing, under their jurisdiction, to ensure that they get equal opportunities like other genders. Recently, the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) joined this bandwagon, by extending their helping hand to the transgenders, by waiving off the course fees. IGNOU announced that the course fee of all the programmes will be exempted for the transgender students. This move will supposedly benefit nearly 4000 transgenders who lost out on job opportunities due to the lack of required qualifications.

© Facebook IGNOU RC Shimla

According to The Times Of India, the Regional Director of IGNOU's Kochi Center, M Rajesh said “With an aim to integrate this special group into the mainstream, IGNOU has decided to offer full fee exemption for transgender in all its academic programmes.” He further added, “The study material will also be provided free of cost.” This move has already attracted some people to come forward and take up this opportunity and Rajesh is expecting more people to join in the following days.

© BCCL

In fact, IGNOU also has a special program called Bachelor Preparatory Programme (BPP) for students without Plus 2 qualification who want to study further. This can be a great move to support the transgender students who were often forced to leave schools after being subjected to discrimination. “This will encourage many to go back to the classroom. We will be propagating it amongst our community members. Most of us are so stuck in the daily struggles that we have forgotten the importance of education in our lives,” said Tripthy Shetty, a transgender activist who was happy with this development. This move can also help those who are financially weak. We are extremely proud of the fact that our society is rising above all the prejudices and stereotypes, to help transgenders get their rights and the opportunities they deserve.

Source: The Times Of India