(a) Whether the Government is aware of concerns being raised regarding caste based
discrimination and harassment of teachers and students in universities and educational
institutions in the country; and
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise during the last three years and the current
year? |
| ANSWER |
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
(DR. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)
(a) & (b): Universities are autonomous bodies which are governed by their own Acts
and the Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations made thereunder. The Acts of the
respective Universities stipulate that the University shall not discriminate on grounds
of caste, religion, etc. The Universities are competent to take all administrative
decisions including to prevent all kinds of harassment and discrimination against any
section of students.
The Government of India and UGC have issued several instructions to all State
Governments and Centrally Funded Educational Institutions to curb discrimination of
any kind. Major initiatives undertaken are:-
In order to check discrimination and harassment of any section of students and
to strengthen the grievance redressal mechanism, the UGC has formulated the UGC
(Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2012 and UGC
(Grievance Redressal) Regulations, 2012. These Regulations intend to give effect in
letter and spirit to the provisions of the Constitution and other statutory provisions and
policies for prevention of discrimination on the grounds of caste and to safeguards the
interests of the students belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The
Regulations also seek to provide for advancement of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled
Tribe students through setting up of Equal Opportunity Cells in each Higher
Educational Institution. The UGC also provides financial assistance to establish the
Centre for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy to support focused research
on the issue of social exclusion related to dalits, tribal and religious minorities. In
order to make the universities/colleges more responsive to the needs and constraints of
the disadvantaged social groups, the UGC is giving financial assistance to all eligible
Colleges/Universities to establish Equal Opportunity Centres. The aim and objective
of this Scheme is to oversee the effective implementation of policies and programmes
for disadvantaged groups, to provide guidance and counselling with respect to
academic, financial, social and other matters and to enhance the diversity within the
campus. UGC Regulations on Curbing the Menace of Ragging in Higher Educational
Institutions, 2009, provides for elimination of ragging in all its form from
Universities. The UGC has a nationwide round the clock anti-ragging helpline for
receiving and tracking complaints of ragging and for various consequential actions in
respect of fresh complaints.
UGC has also approved establishment of 126 SC/ST cells in various
Universities with a view to safeguard the interests of SC/ST students.
Other initiatives include provision of Anti Discriminatory faculty advisors for SC/ST
students who look into their problems and advise accordingly, appointment of Student
Counsellors to address personal, academic, psychological and family related
problems, providing sports and extra curricular activities, setting up counselling
centres, provision of anxiety helpline, and setting up disciplinary action committee to
take urgent action in case of any complaints of reported ragging, discrimination based
on caste, creed, religion and gender etc. The University Grants Commission (UGC)
has informed that data on caste-based discrimination for the last three years was not
maintained however data for the year 2016 is annexed.
A Conference of Vice Chancellors of Central Universities was held on
February 18, 2016 wherein all the Vice Chancellors and senior Officers of the Central
Universities have been asked to be more vigilant and put a proper system in place
including appointment of Anti-Discrimination Officer to ensure that the students from
these categories are not put to any disadvantage or hardship. |
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