Lok Sabha Question No. 639 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-02-06
Subject: Caste Based Discrimination
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 639 TO BE ANSWERED ON 06.02.2017

## Caste Based Discrimination

639. SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

Will the Minister of HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has noticed major concerns related to cast based discrimination and resultant student or teacher facing harassment in the universities in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof, State/ University-wise during the last three years and the current year; and
- (c) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Dr. MAHENDRA NATH PANDEY)

- (a) &  (b):    The  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  has  intimated  that  it  has compiled information on cases related to caste discrimination in Universities only for the year  2015-16.  As  per  the  information  provided  by  UGC,  102  and  40  complaints, respectively,  on  Scheduled  Castes  (SC)  and  Scheduled  Tribes  (ST)  caste  based discrimination have been received by it from various Universities. Statements showing State-wise  and  University-wise  SC  and  ST  related  caste  discrimination  complaints received and settled during the year 2015-16 are at Annexure-I and II, respectively.
- (c) :  The  Government  of  India  and  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  are committed to  ensure  social  equity  in  all  academic  institutions  in  the  country.  UGC  is continuously advocating prevention of any sort of caste based discrimination in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). UGC  (Promotion  of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulation 2012 has been notified on 19 th January, 2013 to ensure a level playing field for all students in respect of entitlement and opportunity for enjoyment of all legitimate  rights  in  HEIs.    This  notification, inter-alia ,  prescribes  measures  for  safeguarding the interest of the students without any prejudice to their caste, creed, religion,

language, ethnicity, gender, and disability and for eliminating discrimination against or harassment of any student in all forms  in HEIs.

Further, UGC has issued circulars to all the Universities/Deemed to be Universities to take the following actions so as to ensure social equity and inclusion in all academic institutions:

- i) The  official  faculty  member  to  be  desisted  from  any  act  of  discrimination against SC and ST students on the ground of their social origin.
2. ii) The university/institution/college to dedicate a page on their website to lodge any such complaints of caste discrimination and to place a complaint register in the Registrar's/Principal's office for appropriate action.
3. iii) Universities/colleges to  ensure  that  no  official/faculty  member  is  involved  in any activity leading to caste discrimination.
4. iv) Strong and prompt actions to be taken against erring official/faculty member who indulges any kind of discriminations against any community or category of students.
- v) Universities/institutions  to  advise  their  officials/faculty  members  that  they should be more  sensitive while dealing with such incidents of caste discrimination.

********

|                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                    |                                                                                                                                                                                    | Annexure-I                                                                                                                                                                         |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination | STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination | STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination | STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination | STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination |
| State-wise and University-wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015-16                                                        | State-wise and University-wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015-16                                                        | State-wise and University-wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015-16                                                        | State-wise and University-wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015-16                                                        | State-wise and University-wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015-16                                                        |
| S.N                                                                                                                                                                                | State                                                                                                                                                                              | Name of University                                                                                                                                                                 | Number of Complaints Receieved                                                                                                                                                     | Number of Complaints Settled                                                                                                                                                       |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2                                                                                                                                                                                  | 3                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4                                                                                                                                                                                  | 5                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Scheduled Castes (SC)                                                                                                                                                              | Scheduled Castes (SC)                                                                                                                                                              | Scheduled Castes (SC)                                                                                                                                                              | Scheduled Castes (SC)                                                                                                                                                              | Scheduled Castes (SC)                                                                                                                                                              |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                              | Indira Gandhi National Open University                                                                                                                                             | 7                                                                                                                                                                                  | 5                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                                  | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                              | Jawaharlal Nehru University                                                                                                                                                        | 3                                                                                                                                                                                  | 3                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                            | Gujarat University                                                                                                                                                                 | 18                                                                                                                                                                                 | 18                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                            | Gujarat Ayurveda University                                                                                                                                                        | 4                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 5                                                                                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                            | Saurashtra University                                                                                                                                                              | 9                                                                                                                                                                                  | 9                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 6                                                                                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                            | Cental University of Gujarat                                                                                                                                                       | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 7                                                                                                                                                                                  | Haryana                                                                                                                                                                            | Maharshi Dayanand University                                                                                                                                                       | 6                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                                  | Haryana                                                                                                                                                                            | Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science & Technology                                                                                                                           | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 9                                                                                                                                                                                  | Himachal Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                   | Eternal University                                                                                                                                                                 | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 10                                                                                                                                                                                 | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                                                                                    | Central University of Jammu                                                                                                                                                        | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 11                                                                                                                                                                                 | Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                          | Karnataka Veterinary , Animal & Fisheries Science University                                                                                                                       | 8                                                                                                                                                                                  | 7                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 12                                                                                                                                                                                 | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                                        | Tata Institute of Social Sciences                                                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 13                                                                                                                                                                                 | Punjab                                                                                                                                                                             | Central University of Punjab                                                                                                                                                       | 2                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 14                                                                                                                                                                                 | Rajasthan                                                                                                                                                                          | Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University                                                                                                                                             | 4                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 15                                                                                                                                                                                 | Tamilnadu                                                                                                                                                                          | Anna University                                                                                                                                                                    | 4                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 16                                                                                                                                                                                 | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                      | Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University                                                                                                                                              | 8                                                                                                                                                                                  | 8                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 17                                                                                                                                                                                 | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                      | Banaras Hindu University                                                                                                                                                           | 19                                                                                                                                                                                 | 19                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 18                                                                                                                                                                                 | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                      | Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj Medical University                                                                                                                                     | 5                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Total                                                                                                                                                                              | Total                                                                                                                                                                              | Total                                                                                                                                                                              | 102                                                                                                                                                                                | 81                                                                                                                                                                                 |

| Annexure II                                                                                                                                                                        | Annexure II                                                                                                                                                                        | Annexure II                                                                                                                                                                        | Annexure II                                                                                                                                                                        | Annexure II                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination | STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination | STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination | STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination | STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) & (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No.639 FOR 06-02-2017 ASKED BY SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY, M.P. REGARDING Caste Based Discrimination |
| State - wise and University - wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015 - 16                                                  | State - wise and University - wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015 - 16                                                  | State - wise and University - wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015 - 16                                                  | State - wise and University - wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015 - 16                                                  | State - wise and University - wise Complaints Received and Settled on the Issue of Caste Discrimination during the Year 2015 - 16                                                  |
| S.N                                                                                                                                                                                | State                                                                                                                                                                              | Name of University                                                                                                                                                                 | Number of Complaints Receieved                                                                                                                                                     | Number of Complaints Settled                                                                                                                                                       |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 2                                                                                                                                                                                  | 3                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4                                                                                                                                                                                  | 5                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Scheduled Tribes (ST)                                                                                                                                                              | Scheduled Tribes (ST)                                                                                                                                                              | Scheduled Tribes (ST)                                                                                                                                                              | Scheduled Tribes (ST)                                                                                                                                                              | Scheduled Tribes (ST)                                                                                                                                                              |
| 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | Delhi                                                                                                                                                                              | Indira Gandhi National Open University                                                                                                                                             | 7                                                                                                                                                                                  | 5                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 2                                                                                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                            | Gujarat University                                                                                                                                                                 | 10                                                                                                                                                                                 | 10                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| 3                                                                                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                            | Gujarat Ayurveda University                                                                                                                                                        | 2                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 4                                                                                                                                                                                  | Gujarat                                                                                                                                                                            | Veer Narmad South Gujarat University                                                                                                                                               | 2                                                                                                                                                                                  | 0                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 5                                                                                                                                                                                  | Jammu & Kashmir                                                                                                                                                                    | Central University of Jammu                                                                                                                                                        | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 6                                                                                                                                                                                  | Karnataka                                                                                                                                                                          | Karnataka Veterinary , Animal &Fisheries Science University                                                                                                                        | 8                                                                                                                                                                                  | 7                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 7                                                                                                                                                                                  | Maharashtra                                                                                                                                                                        | Tata Institute of Social Sciences                                                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  | 1                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 8                                                                                                                                                                                  | Tamilnadu                                                                                                                                                                          | Anna University                                                                                                                                                                    | 4                                                                                                                                                                                  | 4                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| 9                                                                                                                                                                                  | Uttar Pradesh                                                                                                                                                                      | Banaras Hindu University                                                                                                                                                           | 5                                                                                                                                                                                  | 5                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Total                                                                                                                                                                              | Total                                                                                                                                                                              | Total                                                                                                                                                                              | 40                                                                                                                                                                                 | 33                                                                                                                                                                                 |