Include 'third gender' children in schools, states advised

States and union territories have been advised to take steps for admitting socially and educationally backward "third gender" children in educational institutions, parliament was told Wednesday.

"Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, department of school education and literacy has advised all the state/UT governments (except Jammu and Kashmir) to take appropriate action for inclusion of 'third gender' children among the socially and educationally backward classes for the purpose of admission in educational institutions," Human Resource Development Minister Smriti Irani said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

She added that in the application proforma for submission of proposals by the states/UTs under National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme and National Scheme of Incentive to Girls for Secondary Education, transgender option along with male and female has already been included from 2013-14 onwards.