IIT Kanpur SC, ST, OBC Cell composition changed amid rising students death in IITs

NEW DELHI: Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) has partially modified the composition of the SC, ST, OBC, EWS, and PwD Cell. The Cell will work under the superintendence and directions of the deputy director and director, IIT-K director Abhay Karandikar said.

It has also notified the functions of the SC, ST, OBC Cell. As per the changes announced, the Cell will be responsible for supervision and maintenance of complaint register and reservation rosters.

It will also act as a standing advisory committee on Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Caste (OBC), Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and Person with Disability (PWD).

“To assist in compliance of the orders of reservation issued and other benefits admissible from time to time in favour of SCS/ST/OBCs/EWSs/PwDs and to liaise with Government agencies with respect to supply of required information, answering queries and clearing doubts with respect to reservations data/information etc,” the office order issued by IIT Kanpur director read.

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Further, the Cell will have to coordinate with the Diversity and Inclusion Cell for implementation of policies and orders regarding equal opportunity. Members of the Cell are given below, as per the latest notice.

The SC, ST cells are constituted in IITs to help students in solving academic and administrative problems. Amid the raising students' deaths allegedly due to caste discrimination, 19 out of the 23 IITs have SC, ST Cells. However, as per the RTI data shared by the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), it was found that cells dedicated for marginalised students in 16 IITs are inactive.