Lok Sabha Question No. 2540 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-14
Subject: Discrimination in Universities
Ministry: HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: SHIVKUMAR CHANABASAPPA UDASI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2540 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14.3.2016

## DISCRIMINATION IN UNIVERSITIES

## 2540. SHRI SHIVKUMAR UDASI:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  noticed  the  cases  of  caste-based  discrimination  in universities in the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the total number of such cases reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
- (c) whether the Government has conducted any inquiry to ensure that students are not subjected  to  caste-based  discrimination  in  universities  in  the  country  and  if  so,  the details thereof?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a)  to (c) : Data on caste-based discrimination is not centrally maintained.Universities are  autonomous  bodies  which  are  governed  by  their  own  Acts  and  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. Universities are competent to take all administrative decisions including to prevent all kinds of harassment and discriminationagainst any section of students.

The  Government  of  India  and  University  Grants  Commission  (UGC)  have issued several instructionto all State Governments and Centrally Funded Educational Institutions  to  curb  discrimination  of  any  kind.  Major  initiatives  undertaken  are  as below:

In order to check discrimination and harassment of any sections of students and to  strengthen  the  grievance  redressal  mechanism,  the  UGC  has  formulated  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 safeguard 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 provide for elimination of ragging in all its forms from universities. The  UGC  has  a  Nationwide  24X7  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/STs  cells in various Universities with a view to safeguarding the interest of SC/ST students. Other initiatives  also  include  provisions  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 curriculum activities, setting up counsellingcentres,  provision  of  anxiety  helpline,  and  setting  up  disciplinary  action committee  to  take  urgent  action in case of  any  complaints  reported  ragging, discrimination based on caste, creed, religion and gender etc.

A  Conference  of  Vice  Chancellors  of  Central  Universities  was  held  on February 18, 2016 whereby all the Vice Chancellors and senior Officers of the Central Universities have been asked to be more vigilant & put a proper system in place to ensure  that  the  students  from  these  categories  are  not  put  to  any  disadvantage/ hardship. The Vice Chancellors have inter-alia agreed to appoint Anti-Discrimination Officer as provided in UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2012.

*****