The varsity had decided to reserve one seat for transgender candidates in each PG programme.
In a much appreciated move, Bangalore University had announced that transgender candidates would be provided with reservation in admission to post-graduate courses from this academic year.
However, much to the disappointment of the authorities, the initiative has been met with zero response with no candidate applying under the quota.
“We were expecting at least two to three applications from such students for the different PG courses. But it is surprising that we have not received a single application,” said a university official.
An Academic Council meeting in July had approved the reservation proposal unanimously. The varsity also decided to reserve one seat for transgender candidates in each PG course. However, not one of the 7,000 applications of 60 PG programmes is from this group.
David, who works with the Centre for Advocacy and Research, said, “The quota decision was a historic one. Even though a month’s time was given to candidates to submit their applications, I feel it was not adequate for transgender students to prepare themselves mentally to avail of this facility. But I hope by next year, Bangalore University will get a good response.”
Many varsity officials are of the opinion that the same initiative needs to be taken at the under-graduate level and then only would the varsity see applications from these students at the PG level.
Akkai Padmashali, a transgender, said, “Most of us have discontinued education at the primary-level itself. So, we cannot avail this quota.” She went on to add, “However, there are some eligible candidates who have completed their under-graduate courses. If the university extends the application deadline by one more week, we will try to convince them to apply for a PG course.”
Earlier, prominent personalities like CS Dwarakanath, former chairman of the Karnataka Commission for Backward Classes, and Shobha Karandlaje, former minister for rural development and panchayath raj, had hailed the varsity’s reservation for transgenders decision as a path-breaking one.
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