Sumit hails from an interior village in Tezpur. Having seen challenges since her childhood, she has not given up on her career ambition. She passed her higher secondary examinations from Darrang College in the year 2020. Because of financial difficulties, Sumit had to give up on her higher education dream and instead opt for a job as a teacher in a local school to take care of her family. However, the wheels of fortune are now turning for her.
A policy initiative in a college in Guwahati has given her hope. After a three-year hiatus, she has applied for admission in Dispur College under the transgender quota to get her rightful seat for a BA degree in Education. Prior to this, she had applied in many colleges for pursuing higher education, but the three-year gap was a stumbling block. “I was fortunate that Dispur College advertised for seats reserved for transgender students. I felt it was meant for me,” she told Asom Barta over phone.
“I had to undergo mental harassment in my village. My way of life, and demeanour was mocked at by locals. It was depressing but I never gave up. I wanted to pursue medical sciences and enrolled myself in a coaching institute. Because of financial constraints, I dropped out. The past is behind me, I am now looking forward to my classes in Dispur College,” she told this newsletter.
Dispur College has reserved five seats each in Arts and Commerce sections of their graduate courses for transgender students as a policy. Out of these two are reserved for the economically challenged transgender students. This allows the likes of Sumit to enrol themselves free of cost in the college, besides availing other facilities.
“I welcome this initiative. There are many like me who will benefit from such a futuristic policy. I have also spoken to the Principal and Vice Principal of the College,” she confided to this reporter.
“We have taken this step to prevent discrimination in society against this gender. Besides reservation of seats, we have undertaken steps to create an inclusive and healthy environment in the college. An example being a gender-neutral toilet which leaves no room for discrimination. We have come up with the concept of gender champions. These champions will primarily be responsible for creating an enabling atmosphere in the college, especially among the new batch of students, on a range of issues,” Navajyoti Borah, the Principal of the College said. He added that two gender champions will be appointed for each class. They will be coached, and sensitised to do what is required. He said that experts have been invited in the college to interact with the students.
Although the college is a pioneer in reserving seats for transgender students, the importance of gender parity is fast catching up. Jawaharlal Nehru College in Boko is another college where a gender neutral washroom has been built. “We had organised a gender sensitisation programme in our college. One of the invited experts Rituparna Neog stressed the importance of such a step to address the concern of students. It was based on the feedback from that programme that we decided to establish a washroom,” Tapan Dutta, Principal of the College, told Asom Barta adding “if needed we will also reserve seats for students in various courses”.
Rituparna, who manages Akam Foundation, was also very appreciative of the steps taken by Dispur College. “This college has taken up initiatives for transgenders from time-to-time. I have had feedback that these ideas have gelled well with many recipients. These actions have the potential to bring the much-desired gender equality in society,” Neog said, stressing the need for other educational institutions across Assam to emulate such programmes.
A student of Dispur College, on condition of anonymity, was appreciative of the College taking steps not only for the transgender but for the LGBTQIA+ community. “I think it will go a long way in making all of us equal,” the student quipped.
