In a first of its kind, Assam included ‘Transgender’ as gender category in an examination application form becoming the first state in India to do so.
About 42 transgender persons have applied for the preliminary combined competitive examination (CCE), 2020 which is conducted by Assam Public Service Commission (APSC).
The examination is similar to that of civil services examinations conducted by the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC), conducted for the selection of candidates for state civil service, police and other allied services.
Assam’s move is being applauded by the entire country as it would give the transgender community a chance to live a dignified life and equal opportunities like any other citizen.
APSC chairman Pallab Bhattacharya said, “Initially we had not made a separate category for transgender persons when we issued notification for the exam in September. We were soon approached by a prominent transgender activist Swati Bidhan Baruah to include a separate category.”
“We discussed with Baruah and also checked with UPSC where transgender persons are already allowed to apply in a separate category called other. The state government was apprised of the matter and a separate category was created,” he added.
The applications for the CCE (Prelims) exam were received online given COVID-19. “The total application forms submitted to October 25 was 75,988. Of that 42 applicants had applied in the transgender category. The date for the exam has not been fixed, but it will most likely be held towards the end of December,” said Bhattacharya.
No separate reservation policy has been framed for transgenders yet but the candidates in that category will be able to get benefits similar to the existing categories of reservations granted for scheduled tribes, scheduled castes, OBCs etc.
Swati Bidhan Baruah, transgender activist said, “The move to include transgenders in a separate category is a welcome step and Assam is the first state in India to do so. Despite the 2014 SC order and a similar order from Gauhati HC in 2018, we were not given a separate category. That’s why I approached APSC.”
Baruah who is also the associate vice-chairperson of Assam State Transgender Welfare Board has requested APSC to design a set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) to assure that only genuine transgenders apply and receive advantages that they deserve.
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“It’s a big thing that 42 persons have applied in the new category as we know that they are a marginalized community and don’t get opportunities to pursue higher education. We need a committee to formulate the SOPs so that fake transgenders are not able to apply in the new category” said Baruah.
According to the 2011 census, Assam has a transgender population of 11,374 with a literacy of 53.69%.