An expert panel appointed by the higher education regulator will delve into the regulations and schemes pertaining to marginalized communities, as revealed by the education ministry to Parliament. This crucial step comes in response to the Supreme Court’s request for a status report from the University Grants Commission (UGC) on measures taken to safeguard the interests of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, persons with disabilities, and minority communities.
The formation of this committee was a direct result of the Supreme Court’s directive on July 6. On Wednesday, the Junior Education Minister, Subhas Sarkar, while responding to a query in the Rajya Sabha, informed that “In compliance with this order, the UGC has constituted an expert committee on 21-07-2023 to review the UGC Regulations/Schemes concerning the SC/ST/OBC/PwD and minority communities in Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs) and suggest further remedial measures if necessary to create a non-discriminatory environment for SC/ST students in HEIs.”
To uphold the principle of equity in higher educational institutes, the existing UGC (Promotion of Equity in Higher Educational Institutes) Regulations, 2012, necessitate all institutions to ensure a discrimination-free environment in matters of admission for students from SC and ST communities. Additionally, these institutions are bound to eradicate any form of harassment or victimization based on caste, creed, religion, language, ethnicity, gender, or disability, and take appropriate punitive actions against the perpetrators and authorities responsible.
In a progressive move, the regulator revised its 2019 regulations and released the UGC (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, which mandates the inclusion of one member from a marginalized caste or tribe, and one woman, in student grievance redressal committees. These committees are intended to address and handle student complaints in educational institutions.
These guidelines were unveiled amidst a backdrop of student suicides, particularly at Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), sparking a vital conversation about the pressures and challenges faced by students on these campuses. The tragic death of an 18-year-old Dalit student at IIT Bombay in February further intensified the concern and garnered widespread public outcry.
In response to the issue, Minister Sarkar revealed that the commission has also issued advisories to tackle mental health and well-being concerns during and after the pandemic. Moreover, in January, the UGC circulated the national suicide prevention strategy developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
To augment mental health support for students, various measures have been implemented, including specialized psychological counseling helplines, student wellness centers, buddy support systems, and early detection strategies for cases of psychological stress at IITs and other educational institutions.
This collective effort aims to create a more inclusive, supportive, and nurturing environment for students from marginalized communities, fostering an educational landscape that upholds the principles of equity and compassion.