PUNE: The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) will take the lead and appoint a second gender champion to concentrate on issues faced by transgenders and to sensitise students regarding the third gender population.
The SPPU will also have one gender champion to look after male and female gender bias, as directed by the Union ministry of human resource development.
All educational institutions in the country have been directed to appoint gender champions by November 6.
There is no mention of the third gender in the ministry's guidelines, though. The Supreme Court, in April 2014, had directed the Union government to include the third gender as a socially and economically backward group in all schemes.
SPPU vice-chancellor W N Gade said the university would take the first step to include a separate champion for transgenders. "Awareness about the third gender is low and even the Supreme Court has instructed all educational institutes to integrate them into the educational system. Hence, we will appoint a champion for the third gender. This post can be occupied by a boy, girl or a transgender student, but whoever gets it will perform all the duties mentioned in the ministry's guidelines," said Gade.
He said colleges affiliated to the university would also be asked to appoint a second champion, who would specifically spread awareness about transgenders -one of the most vulnerable groups.
On July 28 this year, the Union ministries of women and child development and human resource development had launched the initiative to appoint gender champions in every educational institute.
"The broad mandate of gender champions is to provide an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to understanding the social and cultural constructs of gender that shape the experiences of women and men in society. The aim is to make young boys and girls gender sensitive and create positive social norms that value the girls and their rights," the guidelines said.
According to Gade, 120 colleges affiliated to SPPU have already implemented the guidelines. "We have sent reminders to the rest. We will also send them a fresh circular, asking them to create a post for the third gender champion," he said.
Parikshit Shete, the project manager of non-government organisation Samapathik Trust, said the move to include a separate gender champion is good, but the awareness has to start in schools. "If the university has taken up the cause of spreading awareness, it is a great move, because today's students are tomorrow's adults. But I think the awareness should start from school itself. I myself was made fun of, teased and taunted at school because I was different from other boys. When I complained to the teacher, she told me to cure myself and then cure the world. This attitude has to change. There are many transgenders studying in colleges, but they are scared to come out and tell this to their parents and friends. Merely adding a column in application forms, voter ID and Aadhaar cards is not enough. A lesbian/ gay/ bisexual/ transgender person should feel free to fill the column too. And the education sector can play a big role in this," he said.
According to the guidelines, gender champions can be boys and girls above 16 years of age enrolled in educational institutions. The champions will be selected by the head of the institute for a term of one year, which can be extended for another year based on their performance.
The SPPU will also have one gender champion to look after male and female gender bias, as directed by the Union ministry of human resource development.
All educational institutions in the country have been directed to appoint gender champions by November 6.
There is no mention of the third gender in the ministry's guidelines, though. The Supreme Court, in April 2014, had directed the Union government to include the third gender as a socially and economically backward group in all schemes.
SPPU vice-chancellor W N Gade said the university would take the first step to include a separate champion for transgenders. "Awareness about the third gender is low and even the Supreme Court has instructed all educational institutes to integrate them into the educational system. Hence, we will appoint a champion for the third gender. This post can be occupied by a boy, girl or a transgender student, but whoever gets it will perform all the duties mentioned in the ministry's guidelines," said Gade.
He said colleges affiliated to the university would also be asked to appoint a second champion, who would specifically spread awareness about transgenders -one of the most vulnerable groups.
On July 28 this year, the Union ministries of women and child development and human resource development had launched the initiative to appoint gender champions in every educational institute.
"The broad mandate of gender champions is to provide an integrated and interdisciplinary approach to understanding the social and cultural constructs of gender that shape the experiences of women and men in society. The aim is to make young boys and girls gender sensitive and create positive social norms that value the girls and their rights," the guidelines said.
According to Gade, 120 colleges affiliated to SPPU have already implemented the guidelines. "We have sent reminders to the rest. We will also send them a fresh circular, asking them to create a post for the third gender champion," he said.
Parikshit Shete, the project manager of non-government organisation Samapathik Trust, said the move to include a separate gender champion is good, but the awareness has to start in schools. "If the university has taken up the cause of spreading awareness, it is a great move, because today's students are tomorrow's adults. But I think the awareness should start from school itself. I myself was made fun of, teased and taunted at school because I was different from other boys. When I complained to the teacher, she told me to cure myself and then cure the world. This attitude has to change. There are many transgenders studying in colleges, but they are scared to come out and tell this to their parents and friends. Merely adding a column in application forms, voter ID and Aadhaar cards is not enough. A lesbian/ gay/ bisexual/ transgender person should feel free to fill the column too. And the education sector can play a big role in this," he said.
According to the guidelines, gender champions can be boys and girls above 16 years of age enrolled in educational institutions. The champions will be selected by the head of the institute for a term of one year, which can be extended for another year based on their performance.
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