The southern Indian state of Kerala announced this month that it would reserve places for transgender students in the state's higher education institutions, a move aimed at easing their stigmatization.

The transgender community is among the most marginalized in India, with access to education and subsequently jobs mostly nonexistent, according to experts.

Kerala's move to secure places in higher education is among the first initiatives in the country to help support their progress.

But the move, which has been welcomed by the transgender community, has also been met with skepticism over its viability by activists who highlight the likely ignorance of students and faculty at these universities. Students will face discrimination along with a lack of viable accommodation options, they believe.

"If there is no access to hostels or no access to bathrooms, just like it's for disabled people, [transgender people] disappear," said Vikramaditya Sahai, a consultant with the Tata Institute of Social Sciences who is transgender.

The new policy will apply to government colleges across the state and will require two seats in every college class to be held exclusively for transgender students.

"Due to societal issues these students often have to discontinue their studies or to join other academic institutions after an academic year or after the admission process is closed," the notice says.

Social stigma involved with coming out as transgender often forces teens to run away from home or sees them disowned by their families. Some are unable to continue their education due to discrimination and humiliation from peers. Read more via CNN