Free education for transgender kids in Delhi schools

New Delhi, October 16: Transgender children will study in Delhi schools free with Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung Wednesday approving their admission under the category of "disadvantaged group" defined by the Right to Education Act.

It means these kids will be eligible for 25 percent reservation under the economically weaker section (EWS) and disadvantaged students category for admission. A government notification said: "In exercise of the powers conferred by Clause D of Section 2 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act 2009 (35 of 2009) (RTE Act), the Lt.

Governor of Delhi is pleased to notify inclusion of a 'transgender' child within the meaning of 'child belonging to disadvantaged group' as defined in the said section of the RTE Act." The notification issued by the Directorate of Education added: "The order will be applicable to all schools situated within the National Capital Territory of Delhi."

Transgender kids can now take admission in schools across the national capital and pursue their studies along with other students free of cost. Delhi's Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has notified their inclusion within the meaning of children belonging to 'disadvantaged category' under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, following which they would now be eligible for 25 per cent reservation under the economically weaker section (EWS) and disadvantaged students for admission.

The Health department will be issuing the required certificate to ascertain the gender and admission to schools will be based on that, said a Delhi government official. There are around 4.9 lakh transgenders in the country, according to Census 2011.

Inputs from IANS and PTI