University of Madras to reserve 1 free seat to transgender people in each college: Report

NEW DELHI: The University of Madras has decided to provide one free undergraduate seat to transgender people in colleges that are affiliated to the university with effect from the academic year 2022-23, reported IANS.

The initiative by Madras University seeks to empower the transgender community by encouraging them to pursue higher education. The University of Madras is already providing free seats to students from marginalised communities, who belong to socially and economically backward classes. As per reports, during the 2021-22 academic year, the university has enrolled more than 330 students with poor economic backgrounds.

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S Gowri, the vice-chancellor of the University of Madras said that transgender students will be offered one seat in the 131 arts and science colleges affiliated to the Madras University.

Madras University had previously announced that transgender students can study postgraduate courses free of cost in colleges affiliated with it.

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Transgender activist, writer, poet, and painter Kalki Subramaniam while speaking to IANS said, "This is a welcome move of Madras University. I am happy that awareness is growing among people regarding transgender people and our situation. I have always been a votary for higher education to transgender people and the Madras University has taken a step in the right direction."