HIGHLIGHTS-
- NALSAR in Hyderabad is set to become the country’s first gender-neutral institute.
- The institute has implemented a Gender-Neutral Policy, a significant step toward gender equality.
- Students can identify themselves without being identified by their assigned gender in this way.
The National Academy of Legal Studies and Research, NALSAR in Hyderabad, is set to become the country’s first gender-neutral institute. The institute has implemented a Gender-Neutral Policy, which is a significant step toward gender equality. In such a situation, not only women and men at the institution, but also lesbian, gay, and transgender students, would be allowed to live freely with their identities.
According to Nalsar authorities, most Indian institutions lack gender-neutral places such as hostels and washrooms. The law college will feature gender-neutral hostels as part of its policy. This will pave the way for LGBTQ+ universities to be more inclusive.
The gender-neutral institute encourages self-identification. Students can identify themselves without being identified by their assigned gender in this way. The Vice-Chancellor, Faizan Mustafa said, we have pledged to preserve the students’ privacy and, if necessary, to keep it hidden from their parents and guardians as well.
India’s first gender-neutral institute
The University aimed to create a welcoming and safe environment on campus. The ground floor of the GH-6 building has been designated as a gender-neutral area, with rooms reserved for LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer plus) students. The university intends to move towards a gender-neutral hostel shortly. The washroom on the ground level of the academic building is similarly gender-neutral.
The institute already has an interim policy
The institute already has an interim policy in place and is working on drafting a draught policy to encourage inclusive education on campus. The policy will be adopted when it will be approved by all educational bodies within the institution.
Recognizing gender identity and sexual orientation will be self-identification
The university’s trans policy committee drafted the “Policy on Inclusive Education for Gender and Sexual Minorities.” According to the proposed policy, the basis for recognizing gender identity and sexual orientation will be self-identification, which will need no more than a written self-attested statement. Gender in official records should be distinct from applicants’ honorific titles in legal documents like birth certificates or Aadhaar cards.
Gender-Neutral institute: Attempt to become more inclusive
In June 2015, a 22-year-old BA LLB student requested that her gender not be shown on her diploma. The suggestion was quickly granted, and the neutral prefix “Mx” was chosen. It was the start of the university’s attempts to become more inclusive. The college has omitted gender words such as ‘Miss’ and ‘Mr’ from the degree certificates.
No discrimination based on appearance, hairstyle, or other factors
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the institute will have a non-discrimination policy, which means that students will not be discriminated against based on their appearance, haircut, or other factors. Students from the LGBTQ+ community will be given fair consideration for student scholarships.
Unique courses on gender and sexual minorities
The unique courses on gender and sexual minorities will also be introduced to increase the sensitivity among the students. The Vice-Chancellor, Mustafa said, “We’ll train our teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as our security guards and other service providers, to ensure that the campus is inclusive.”
