Set up web pages for reporting caste-based discrimination: UGC to institutions

NEW DELHI: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to higher educational institutions directing them to take steps against caste-based discrimination. These steps include setting up a web page to receive complaints from students from Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes against discrimination and having a register in the principal’s office as well.

“The university/institute/college may develop a page on their website for lodging such complaints of caste discrimination by SC/ST students and also place a complaint register in the registrar/principal office for the purpose. If any such incident comes to the notice of the authorities, action should be taken against the erring official/faculty members promptly,” says the UGC letter dated September 9.

The letter also asks institutions to ensure that their staff -- officials and faculty members -- do not discriminate against students from marginalised communities either. “The officials/faculty members should desist from any act of discrimination against SC/ST students on grounds of their social origin,” says the letter and reiterates the same point further down.

The UGC also directs institutions for form committees to look into complaints of discrimination and says officials should be “ be more sensitive while dealing with incidents of caste discrimination”. Finally, institutions have to provide details on the subject to the UGC for 2020-21 via its University Activity Monitoring Portal (UAMP).

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