Inclusion is the theme for them

S Vishnu Sharmaa, INN/Chennai, @Svs037

Life turns meaningful when progress manages to enlighten lives of all. Promoting inclusion is the best way to ensure advancement enlightens all sections of the society.

A look into the reputed educational institution Loyola College could give an impression that encouraging inclusion has already begun there. Naleena Prasheetha T, a trans woman was elected associate secretary of the college’s student union.

It is for the first time that a transgender is elected to the student union, say sources. The election was held on June 21, Naleena is a student of second year MSc (Visual Communication). This has boosted the confidence levels of Naleena. 

This victory is of high significance to her. ‘I am sure my getting elected will serve as an example for other transgenders who too strongly desire to do something meaningful in their lives,’ she says. 

The associate secretary post represents women and transgenders, will work women and transgender students’ welfare. Things were not easy for her. She campaigned for the same post in 2017, and it was not a thing to be done easily due to stigma attached to her community.

‘But things changed currently,  emerging victorious in the election also means that I have won the trust of fellow students.’ Post the winning, Naleena says she wants to organise awareness programmes with regards to cyber crimes.

Many women fall prey to it and awareness will prevent that. There are other programmes for empowering women on her agenda. Naleena wants to form teams for women in cricket, volleyball, hockey and also start self-defence training classes for women. 

Loyola College has begun taking efforts towards promoting progress of marginalised sections, says a college official. In this regard, victory of Naleena is a matter of pride for all of us, says the official.