In an effort to break stereotypes around the transgender community, the Kerala government has decided to bear the expenses and training costs of a 20-year-old Adam Harry who was ostracized by his parents, to help him become India’s first transgender airline pilot.

The government has taken the landmark decision to ensure and promote equality in the state. The Social Justice Department of Kerala has already sanctioned Rs 23.34 lakh to financially aid Harry to pursue a three-year-long course at the Rajiv Gandhi Academy for Aviation Technology in Thiruvananthapuram and secure a commercial pilot license post the training.

Harry is a resident of Thrissur district in Kerala who is also the country’s first transgender to receive a private pilot license. He received the license in 2017 after undergoing training that took place in Johannesburg.

According to aviation regulator DGCA’s (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) rule, those applying for the commercial pilot licence must furnish evidence of having no less than two hundred hours of flight experience.

Harry, who possess a private pilot licence, had applied for government funding after his family disowned him for being a transgender.

Harry told the CNBCTV18 that he had a frail hope of receiving the funding to pursue his childhood dream of becoming an airline pilot following a number of rejections he had faced from family and friends. “I am grateful to the Kerala government for this help,” the 20-year-old said.

Kerala is known for being a transgender-friendly state. It became one of the first states in India to establish a welfare policy for the transgender community. Kerala, in 2016, also introduced free sex reassignment surgery through government hospitals.

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