Equal Opportunity, ST/SC cells at many Pune colleges receive nil complaint on discrimination

Savitribai Phule Pune University, affiliated colleges

Among the information collected by the The Indian Express, the lone higher acquisition institute that reportedly received complaints was Pune’s Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). It had established a committee to look into caste-based favoritism complaints by students and unit successful 2021. According to Dr Parag Kalkar, Pro-Vice Chancellor of SPPU and existent president of the committee, the committee had received 3 to 4 complaints from teaching and non-teaching unit successful the past 2 years, each of which had been resolved. However, it received nary complaints from students, Kalkar said.

SPPU-affiliated Modern College of Arts, Commerce, and Science that has an Equal Opportunity Cell since 2018-19 has truthful acold recorded nary ceremonial complaint, said Dr Sanjay Kharat, compartment chairman.

Same is the lawsuit with SPPU-affiliated Fergusson College, wherever the Equal Opportunity Cell was established 5 years ago. Prof Prakash Pawar, caput of the compartment astatine college, said it conducts assorted activities to beforehand equality. The assemblage besides has a abstracted pupil grievance redressal committee, helium said.

Bharati Vidyapeeth’s College of Engineering affiliated to the SPPU, is besides yet to grounds immoderate compliant successful the past 2 years, said Dr R N Patil, caput of the ST/SC Cell.

Other universities

Data besides shows that College of Engineering Pune (COEP) Technological University, Maharashtra Institute of Technology World Peace University’s Kothrud campus, Ajeenkya DY Patil University are yet to person immoderate complaints connected favoritism contempt having grievance redressal cells.

However, authorities astatine Vishwakarma University, Symbiosis International University and Flame University failed to stock details erstwhile contacted by The Indian Express.

What are Equal Opportunity Cells and SC/ST Cells?

Equal Opportunity Cells were introduced successful the UGC (Promotion of Equity successful Higher Educational Institutions) Regulations, 2012 arsenic a mode to combat caste favoritism connected assemblage and assemblage campuses.

In January this year, portion proceeding a Public Interest Litigation filed by mothers of Rohit Vemula and Payal Tadvi, the Supreme Court asked the UGC to taxable information regarding the mounting up of Equal Opportunity Cells successful universities and connected the fig of complaints received.

As a result, the UGC issued a announcement connected January 10 that said “all HEIs are requested to found an Equal Opportunity Cell and SC/ST Cell to guarantee the effectual and transparent redressal of grievances of the disadvantaged groups.” The announcement besides requested higher acquisition institutes to supply accusation astir the cells and the complaints received to the UGC by January 20.

Experts rise interest implicit deficiency of complaints

On the deficiency of complaints received by the cell, erstwhile UGC president Dr Sukhdeo Thorat said that the question arises whether the the universities and students are alert astir the 2012 regulations and besides connected the request for implementing the regulations. “Since they are not adjacent alert of the regulation, the students don’t cognize whether to kick oregon not. The universities and the students some are unaware, they lone cognize the Atrocities Act,” Thorat pointed out.

Rahul Sasane, president of the University Student Struggle Action Committee astatine SPPU, has called for much consciousness connected the mechanism. “The SPPU SC/ST Committee is disposable connected the website, but determination needs to beryllium much consciousness astir it. Only students, professors, and non-teaching unit are alert of this committee. Can they kick against injustice done to them. Secondly, astir of the members of the committee displayed connected the website are precocious caste. How tin each these radical supply justness successful a due manner?” helium pointed out.

Dr Sanjay Dabhade, subordinate of the Tribal Doctors Forum, said that zero complaints mean that the beingness of these cells is not known to students oregon teachers. “It is besides important to spot the creation of the committees — if the members are from precocious caste oregon from the Schedules Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The operation and functioning of the higher acquisition institutes is besides important; if it is not antiauthoritarian and if the absorption forces their decisions, past nary 1 volition situation to complain,” Dabhade said.