ISLAMABAD: Representatives of civil society have demanded of the authorities concerned to increase educational opportunities for transgenders by offering them scholarships and other incentives so that they could become part of the main stream of social fabric.

Access to education is the right to every person, but unfortunately the transgender community is facing discriminatory attitude in our society, even no formal education institutions are available for the transgenders in the country.

Transgender people usually discontinue their education and risk their future career opportunities due to discriminatory behaviour of the society, as they are even deprived of family and school environment.

Nadeem Kashish, a transgender said that there were a number of people from this community who are interested in getting admission in language and computer courses, but it is social stigma that their concerns had never been discussed at any forum.

She further said that the inclusion of transgender persons in an education set up is a big challenge, so scholarships should be a unique opportunity for the transgender persons to learn and grow in the society as equal citizen.

Social activist Dr Maliha Ehsan told APP that there was a strong urge in the community to fight for their educational rights so that they could get their basic rights and to become honourable citizen of the society.

There is dire need for empowering transgender community and this change is only possible if we take initiative for their education, there is a need to work on multiple initiatives to promote human rights, education, functional literacy including computer and political education for the transgenders, Dr Maliha said.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2018

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