UGC announces new move to end discrimination on campuses

New Delhi: College campuses too are not immune to discrimination of students and even teachers based on their ethnicity, language, caste or religion. Often Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes as well as minorities are the target of obnoxious practices, including hurling of abuses and insults, by other students belonging to different social strata.

In a significant move aimed at ensuring a discrimination-free environment in the higher-education sector, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to revise the criteria for selection of students enjoying affirmative action and the concessions granted to them.

UGC authorities said that a committee of experts will be appointed for the purpose and it will submit a report. Another panel has been recommended to suggest measures to ensure a discrimination-free campus.

The UGC’s decision follows certain recent observations by the Supreme Court regarding the deaths of students belonging to Scheduled Caste/Tribe categories. Even in June, the court had said that the matter had grave consequences and it could be solved only by measures outside the existing rules.

Back in 2012, the UGC had published guidelines to ensure equality on the campus. These guidelines had suggested appointment of a liaison officer for backward communities and a grievance redressal cell in higher-educational institutions. The current move of the UGC is to revise these guidelines.

In April, the UGC had recommended inclusion of representatives of Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and women in the grievance redressal cell.