Out of all the central universities that recorded caste-based discrimination against Dalits in 2015-16, Benaras Hindu University tops the list. Unfortunately, BHU witnessed 19 cases of caste-based discrimination. The second being, Gujarat University with 18 complaints, according to the University Grants Commission (UGC). This, however, is not BHU’s first liability, JD(U) MP Ali Anwar Ansari accused the university of sacking the basic liberty of choice by restricting exclusively the female students from consuming non-vegetarian food, uncompromising hostel timings and timed access to the internet.
However, the BHU vice-chancellor Prof Girish Chandra Tripathi blatantly denied the incident. “No such case came to my knowledge. As I haven’t seen the report, it is not appropriate to comment,” he said. The UGC’s figures, as provided by the government in the Lok Sabha, are based on the reports submitted by universities.
The UGC’s figures on caste-based discrimination were reported in response to a question in Lok Sabha on Monday as per reports. As we retrospect the years 2015-16 the count was no less: 102 complaints of discrimination against Dalits and 40 against tribals in 18 top central universities of India.
As Vemula’s death resonated the caste struggle and caste-based discrimination in the roots of India, it gave voice to a number of students going public about their insecurity in higher educational institutions.
“Both UP and Gujarat have the maximum number of universities that have reported caste based complaints. In Delhi, seven such complaints were received from Indira Gandhi National Open University and three from Jawaharlal Nehru University. JNU registrar Pramod Kumar said as per Hindustan Times. “We have a separate equal opportunity cell. Each complaint is thoroughly investigated,” he said
Of other universities, the figures of cases of discrimination according to reports would be Saurashtra University – 9, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University – 8, Maharishi Dayanand University (Haryana) 6, Chhatrapati Shahuji Maharaj, Medical University – 5, Jawaharlal Nehru University – 3 and IGNOU- 7.
