Lok Sabha Question No. 1965 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-01
Subject: Abuse against LGBTQI Community
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1965 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01.08.2023

## ABUSE AGAINST LGBTQI COMMUNITY

1965. SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is cognizant that 64% students from the third gender or LGBTQI community faces abuse and discrimination in educational institutions in the country;
- (b) the   present status of  gender  sensitisation   programme available in educational institutions in the country, State-wise; and
- (c) the details of the number of educational institutions with gender-neutral restrooms, Statewise?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT (SHRI A: NARAYANASWAMY)

- (a) (b): The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019, section 13 provides that every educational institution funded or recognised by the appropriate Government shall provide inclusive education and opportunities for sports, recreation and leisure activities to transgender persons without discrimination on an equal basis with others.

Department of School Education, MoE implements The National Education Policy(NEP) 2020 which envisages an inclusive and structural change in the educational system. It focuses on 'Equitable and  Inclusive Education' which reverberates the idea that no child should be left behind in terms of educational  opportunity because of their background and   socio-cultural identities. NEP , 2020 identifies transgender  children as   Socio-Economically Disadvantaged Groups (SEDGs) and provides for equitable quality education; inter-alia; for all such students This   includes   provisions   for  assisting  transgender  children in  gaining access to  education, support for community-based interventions that address local   context-specific barriers to transgender children'$ access to and participation in education, thereby aiming to eliminate any remaining disparity in access to education for children from any gender or other SEDGs

Under Samagra Shiksha, teacher and school heads are trained under NISHTHA (National Initiative for School Heads and  Teachers' Holistic   Advancement), a nation-wide integrated teacher  training program:  NISHTHA, inter-alia, Teaching and Learning Process, which helps teachers to use and adopt learning activities that foster gender sensitive classroom environment. Further; teachers are also oriented on counseling; provisions of POCSO Act, Juvenile Justice Act; and emergency numbers, drop-box for complaints, etc

In addition, National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has developed material including training modules for the capacity building of teachers on the issues related to gender in education. NCERT has been training teachers, teacher educators and school heads on sensitization with an all-inclusive approach. The concerns related to transgender children are addressed in different textual and training materialslmanuals/modules gender

(c): There is no such data available.