Kerala panel permits boys and gender‑nonconforming children to keep long hair

The Kerala State Advisory Committee on Education and Social Welfare issued a recommendation that boys and children who identify outside the traditional gender binary should be allowed to keep long hair. The move aims to align school grooming policies with evolving understandings of gender identity and personal expression.

Panel members said the guidance is based on consultations with child psychologists, gender‑rights groups and educators, who argued that forced short‑hair standards can cause psychological distress for gender‑nonconforming students. The recommendation does not mandate schools to change existing rules but urges them to adopt a more inclusive approach.

The advisory has sparked mixed reactions. While several schools in Kerala have welcomed the suggestion as a step toward inclusivity, some parent groups expressed concerns about maintaining discipline and uniformity. The panel has asked the state education department to review the proposal and issue formal guidelines within the next few weeks.