Lok Sabha Question No. 378 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-02
Subject: Caste Discrimination in Higher Educational Institutions
Ministry: SOCIAL JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT
Asked by: Dr. Alok Kumar Suman

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## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF SOCIALJUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT LOKSABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.378 TO BE AI\SWERED  ON 02.12.2025

## CASTE DISCRIMINATION  IN HIGIIER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

## 378. DR" ALOK KUMAR SUMAN:

## will the Minister of socIAL  JUSTICE AND EMPOWERMENT  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is fact that the SC/ST communities  student  groups and families consistenfly allege  that sfructural  and subtle caste-based discrimination  and alienation on campuses  are the underlying  causes  of the suicide in the Central Goverffnent funded higher educational institutions and Central Universities,  if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether  the Ministry has examined  particularly caste based discrimination  in these premier institutions, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the Ministry reported  from IITs and other  Central Universities  that data on caste based discrimination  is not centrally maintained,  if so, the details thereof;  and
- (d) whether  cases of sc/ST  students dying by suicide keep happening  despite minimal intervention  by the Ministry,  if so, the reasons in this regard?

## AI\tSWER

## MIMSTER OF STATE FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE  AI\[D EMPOWER]\{ENT (SHRI RAMDAS ATTIAWALE)

- (a) to (d): Department  of Higher Education,  Ministry  of Education has informed that at present, thirty-one  National  Institutes  of Technology  (NITs) and an lndian Institute of Engineering  Science and Technology (IIEST),  Shibpur are functioning in the country as Institutions  of National  Importance  governed  by the National  Institutes of Technology, science Education and Research ((NITSER) Act,zOO7  (29 of 2007). As informed by Institutes,  personal  reasonVfamily  issues/ Health related  issues/ loss of money due to online tading/  failed in an academic  subjecV  gaming etc. are some of the common causes of such incidents.

All the Institutes take proactive welfare measures to prevent  harassment of students  and have engaged counselors  / Psychologists/ Doctors for counseling of students from time to time. The Institutes  also have SC/ST  cells established in the Institution to look into the issues of students. In addition, the Institute's  own faculties/ Wardens/ Mentors are also actively involved  in helping Students to deal with a wide ringe of concems  be it academic,  personal, emotional.  xhese Institutes conduct regular counseling  sessions through sensitization  program for the student's community and have put in place provision of online registration of complaintV  suggestion. Besides  this, motivational  lectures/ talks, meditation & yoga sessions' sports meet, cultural meet are organized from time to time to inculcate  healthy  atmosphere among students,

The Council  of NITSER has also advised the Institutes  to join hands in proactively mitigating  the problems  of students and taking care of emotional well being during their stay in the campuses  and help them to remain  joyful, positive  and empower them to have better vision,

University Grants Commission  (UGC) has notified the UGC @romotion  of Equity in Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012 to give effect  to the statutory provisions and policies for  prevention  of discrimination  on the grounds of caste, creed, religiolt' language,  etbnicity,  gender,  disability.

The UGC has taken various steps for the Prevention of Caste Based Discrimination in tIEIs. UGC has issued various directiveVinstructions  and guidelines to HEIs to have a mechani.sm to address  grievances related to discrimination.  These include Equal Opportunity Cells, SC/ST Grievance  Redressal Committees,  and Liaison  Officers specifically  designated to handle  matters  concerning  SC/ST students  and staff.

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