Kochi : To enhance skills and open the floodgates of career opportunities for the transgender community in the state, the Kochi regional centre of the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) has introduced special academic orientation programmes.
As part of the initiative, a sensitization programme with academic orientation and life skill development training for transgenders was conducted by IGNOU and the Alappuzha Chapter of Junior Chamber International (JCI Alleppey) at the IGNOU regional centre at Kaloor on Saturday.
According to an IGNOU officer, the programme gains social significance in the backdrop of Kochi Metro Rail Ltd offering jobs for 23 transgender persons. “If more organizations follow the example set by KMRL, transgender persons should have the necessary academic proficiency and life skills to meet their demands, said the officer.
Our immediate focus will be on the transgender persons employed at the Kochi Metro, who will require additional skills to enhance their career opportunities. The programme is mainly aimed to enhance job skills of those already employed, the officer said.
The IGNOU authorities decided to begin the courses specially for transgender persons after transgender activist Tripthi Shetty approached the university to enquire about various courses.
The training programme on Saturday was inaugurated by Hibi Eden MLA. “There has been a positive change in the social acceptance of transgender persons and proper academic and skill development will help them lead a more successful life,” he said. IGNOU Regional Director M Rajesh shared the concept of the programme with the participants.
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