New Delhi Amid rising cases of discrimination in some top institutions and caste becoming a politically sensitive issue ahead of elections in states like Uttar Pradesh next year, Education The regulator has asked colleges and universities to prevent caste-based abuse on a priority basis.
University Grants Commission (UGC) has asked the institutions to take immediate action against the officials and faculties involved in such actions. Among other directions, the UGC has also asked them to develop a dedicated platform for online complaints and constitute a separate committee to deal with the situation. In addition, the higher education regulator has urged institutions and universities to provide regular updates.
The move comes after the education ministry’s announcement to fill caste-based vacancies in central universities on a priority basis and was seen as a concrete step to remove discrimination by academicians as well as deal with political influence ahead of crucial state elections. As seen.
“The officers or faculty members should refrain from any act of discrimination against Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) students on the basis of their social origin. The UGC, in a letter to higher educational institutions, said that universities and colleges should ensure that no officer, faculty member discriminates against any community or category of students.
“Universities/Institutes/Colleges may develop a page on their website for registering such complaints of caste discrimination by SC/ST students and also maintain a complaint register in the Registrar/Principal Office for the purpose. If any such incident comes to the notice of the authorities, immediate action should be taken against the erring officer/faculty members,” the apex higher education regulator said in the letter, a copy of which has been reviewed. mint.
It has also reminded institutions to take note of their earlier suggestions to stop caste-based discrimination and show adequate sensitivity in the matter. The circular further outlines that universities may constitute a committee to look into complaints of discrimination received from SC, ST and OBC students as well as teachers and non-teaching staff.
“You are requested to advise the authorities/faculty members of your university/institution to be more sensitive in dealing with incidents of caste discrimination,” the UGC said. UGC Tatkal
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has directed vice-chancellors of all central universities to fill up over 6,200 vacancies by the end of October. Pradhan, while addressing the vice-chancellors of 46 central universities on September 4, had asked universities to advertise vacancies and fill up the posts.
According to the education ministry, 6,229 faculty posts are vacant in universities, of which 1,012 are in the SC category, 592 in the ST category, 1,767 in the OBC category, 805 in the EWS (Economically Weaker Section) category and 355 in the physically challenged category. are in.
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