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Vemula impact: UGC wakes up to caste-based discrimination on campuses

UGC has finally woken up from slumber and taken note of caste-based discrimination on campuses.

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The University Grants Commission (UGC), it seems, has finally woken up from slumber and taken note of caste-based discrimination on campuses. 

In a circular dated March 1, it has directed all vice-chancellors to ensure that there are no such complaints henceforth. It also said that officials and faculty should desist from any act of discrimination against SC/ST students, on grounds of their social origin.

This is the first 'acknowledgment' of the menace, on part of the apex higher education body, ever since the suicide of Dalit researcher Rohith Vemula at Hyderabad Central University rocked the country. 

The UGC further directed all higher educational institutions to develop a web page for lodging complaints of caste bias. Also a complaint register should be maintained in the office of the registrar or principal for the purpose. “If any incident comes to the notice of the authorities, action should be taken against the erring official/faculty members promptly,” the circular said.

“Officials/faculty members ...should be more sensitive while dealing with such incidents of caste discrimination,” it said, referring to old directives issued in 2011 and 2013 to this effect.

Dalit organisations have welcomed the move. “Better late than never. Hope this initiative will encourage SC/ST students come forward and lodge harassment plaints,” said Sanjay Vairal, head of an Dalit student outfit in Mumbai.

“It remains to be seen whether universities will promptly act on such plaints or, like the anti-harassment cell for women, it would remain on paper only,” he said.

Students, however, are cautious of the move. “Caste-based remarks, direct and indirect humiliation, exclusions.. all still exist in public universities and IITs. However, victims don’t come forward to make formal complaint for fear of their career,” said an IIT Bombay student.

Rohith Vemula, who committed suicide in January, was earlier expelled from the varsity and hostel over allegations of violent attack on an ABVP leader. The ABVP leader had then approached Union labour minister Bandaru Duttatrey who reportedly asked the Ministry of Human Resource Development to take stringent action on Vemula and three other students for “anti-national” activities.

While Vemula’s supporters claim he was punished hard because of his caste, ABVP insists he was part of extreme left groups, and engaged in “anti-national” activities such as supporting Afzal Guru.

As many as 12 scheduled caste students have ended their lives in Hyderabad Central University alone, since it came into existence in the early 1970s, according to the Ambedkar Students' Association.

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