University Makes Tuition Free for Trans Students to Reduce Homelessness

India's Manonmaniam Sundaranar University (MSU) has made all its courses free for transgender students, PinkNews reports. The decision spans education levels from undergraduate to doctorate, and will go into effect this academic year in order to advance the economic well-being of trans folks.

"After getting neglected by the society and even by their parents, the transgenders are forced to beg on the streets," said MSU vice-chancellor Dr. Krishnan Baskar in a statement. "If we can create a favourable condition for acquiring better educational qualifications, it will enable them to occupy enviable positions in government or private institutions, and hence, the MSU has taken an initiative in this direction."

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MSU, which was founded in 1990 in Tamil Nadu, has around 65,000 students across its affiliated colleges with courses that can cost as much as nearly 20,000 Indian Rupees.

As part of the University's inclusive resolution, instructions were also given to college principles to create separate bathroom facilities for trans students, staff and guests.

Baskar reiterated the contributions trans people can make in society if given proper support, saying that MSU's free waiver will uplift the third gender. "A transgender from Salem has become the first Sub-Inspector of Police in Tamil Nadu to prove that providing right opportunity is important for them to come up in life," the vice-chancellor said.