COIMBATORE: Bharathiar University is planning to establish a separate hostel for transgender students to address accommodation challenges they face. A proposal for this initiative is expected to be presented before the syndicate for approval. Currently, some transgender students pursuing postgraduate programmes in the university have reported difficulties in finding accommodation in private hostels or houses. A transwoman was initially denied admission to the university but was later accepted following public outcry. However, she faced further difficulties in securing accommodation nearby and ultimately had to rent a house in Vellalore, which is more than 25 km away from the university. As a result, her daily commute takes more than two hours. To address these pressing issues, it was suggested that the university consider providing accommodation on campus. According to sources, the university is planning to establish a dedicated hostel with more than 20 rooms for transgender students. University registrar R Rajavel stated that this initiative could serve as a model for fostering an inclusive environment in higher education institutions, inspiring other universities and colleges to follow Bharathiar University’s lead. He said, “A transwoman from the commerce department has raised this concern. We plan to place before the syndicate a proposal to establish a dedicated hostel transgender students. Once it is approved, we will send it to the state govt.”
