Ensure safety of Transgender students in educational institutions: Odisha Govt to colleges, varsities

Bhubaneswar: Taking an initiative to protect students belonging to the transgender community from any kind of violence and sexual abuse in educational institutions across Odisha, the State Government directed all the degree colleges and universities to follow an advisory issued by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).

In this regard, the State Higher Education Department issued a notification to the registrars of all universities and principals of degree colleges enclosing a copy of the advisory of the NHRC for ensuring the welfare of the Transgender students at their campus.

“The educational institutions are requested to protect gender-nonconforming students from bullying harassment or other form of violence in their respective jurisdictions,” the Higher Education Department stated in a notification.

The Department directed the authorities to form monitoring committee cells at all the colleges and universities to address the issues of prejudices, discrimination, sexual abuse, and other violence against transgender persons.

As per the NHRC advisory, all educational institutions should take steps for the construction of Uni-sex toilets or rest rooms to provide gender neutral facilities on the premises.