According to the complainant, the content of the manual promotes gender-neutral infrastructure for children which is not compatible with their gender realities and needs.
The National Commission for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (NCPCR) sought to amend the “inconsistencies” in the document, claiming that the NCERT’s Gender-Neutral Teacher Training Manual would deny children equal rights with different biological needs. It further claims that the text of the manual suggests gender-neutral infrastructure for children that is not compatible with their gender realities and basic needs.
The goal of the new manual for teachers is to educate and sensitize them to the LGBTQ + community and different gender adaptations. It highlights the practices and strategies for sensitizing and incorporating schools for transgender and gender-like children.
These strategies include the provision of gender-neutral toilets and uniforms, the sensitivity of non-teaching staff, the elimination of the practice of segregating children in different school activities based on their gender, and inviting members of the transgender community to speak on campus.
In a letter to the NCERT director, the commission said it had received a complaint about the content of a teacher training manual entitled “Transgender Children in School Education: Anxiety and a Roadmap” published by the Gender Studies Department at NCERT.
Complainant states that the text of the manual suggests gender-neutral infrastructure for children that is not compatible with their gender realities and basic needs.
“Furthermore, the idea of creating and removing binary would deny children equal rights to their various biological needs. Second, this approach would expose children to unnecessary psychological trauma due to conflicting environments at home and at school.” The manual (Chapter 3) which teachers are advised to discuss with students about adolescent blockers and their availability for adolescents, ”the letter said.
Moreover, the background and qualifications of the members of the draft committee have not been verified, the top child rights organization said in its letter. The NCPCR sought to rectify the inconsistencies in the document and further stated that the anecdotes of the members of the draft committee could be verified.
(PTI)