The Union government does not centrally maintain any data regarding the number of cases of discrimination against students coming from scheduled caste or scheduled tribe backgrounds in central universities, IITs, AIIMS, and other public sector units. The Centre made this admission to the Parliament on a starred question raised by JD(U) MP Dr Alok Kumar Suman.
Notably, there has been a significant rise in the number of cases registered under crimes against scheduled castes and tribes in the past decade. Between 2013 and 2022, more than 5.24 lakh cases were registered in incidents related to atrocities against scheduled castes or scheduled tribes.
And, compared to 2013, 46 per cent more cases were registered in 2022. However, the Union government cites “growing awareness, wider publicity, and capacity building of police personnel” as some of the reasons for more cases being registered under the SC/ST (prevention of atrocities) Act, 1989.
While speaking to THE WEEK, Students’ Federation of India (SFI) Central Executive Committee Member Ramadas Prini Sivanandan criticized the BJP-led Union government, alleging that its approach towards socially marginalized sections of the society reflects a “divide and rule” policy rather than a focus on their welfare and that not maintaining even data of students facing atrocities should not be seen as an isolated thing.
“During the first Modi government, atrocities against Dalit communities frequently made headlines, with incidents occurring across the country. However, this pattern of incidents making headlines appears to have diminished in recent times. This raises critical questions: Have such atrocities truly decreased, or are they being overlooked?” said Sivanandan, while adding that lack of visibility and action only deepens concerns about systemic discrimination.
Is this a case of systemic discrimination against SC/ST?
Sivanandan highlighted that systemic discrimination is evident in this year’s Union Budget. “A review of the budget reveals significant funding cuts, particularly in allocations to the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Social Justice, and the Ministry of Tribal Affairs. These ministries manage crucial education programs, especially for SC, ST, and OBC students,” he explained.
“Several scholarships and fellowships, vital for enabling students to pursue education, have faced drastic reductions. While the discontinuation of the Maulana Azad Fellowship made headlines last year, numerous other programs have been quietly slashed in this budget.”
Sivanandan, a Dalit research scholar at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, was suspended earlier this year for two years, allegedly due to his activism, including his participation in a Parliament march in January.
“I challenged the suspension in the Bombay High Court, naming TISS, UGC, the Government of India, the Ministry of Social Justice, and the National Scheduled Caste Development Corporation as respondents. Initially, the government argued that suspended students were ineligible for fellowships. However, the court ruled that the institute must renew the fellowship and could not stop it arbitrarily.”
Following the court order, his fellowship was renewed, although his suspension remains in effect while the case is under judicial review. “The government later claimed the delay in fellowship disbursement was due to a lack of funds. This reasoning—that financial constraints prevent support—raises serious concerns about accountability,” he said.
The Union government’s stance is that there are adequate safeguards to prevent discrimination against students coming from backward sections. In his Parliament response, Union minister of social justice and empowerment Dr Virendra Kumar noted that, in addition to “two acts”—the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989—the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and National Commission for Scheduled Tribes provide safeguards against exploitation.
Equal opportunity cells remain on paper alone in most institutes
The government also notes that SC/ST student cells, Equal Opportunity Cell, Student Grievance Cell, Student Grievance Redressal Committee, Laison Officers, etc., have been set up in central universities and other higher educational institutions. The government also noted that the All India Council for Technical Education also framed strict norms to prohibit discriminatory incidents.
Shruthy Harilal, who is currently doing research on caste, said that in reality, most institutes in India lack an Equal Opportunity Cell (EOC), and even when present, they often fail to function effectively. “Discussions with students reveal a common issue: many institutes don’t have an SC/ST cell. For such a cell to operate properly, it requires representation from faculty members of marginalized backgrounds.
However, this is rarely the case. For instance, a Savarna faculty member cannot serve as the chairperson or be part of an SC/ST cell. Only someone from the Bahujan community can hold such positions,” she said. “In technical institutions like IITs, where faculty representation from marginalized communities is already minimal, the absence of SC/ST cells is often justified by vague explanations. Without these cells, students from marginalized backgrounds have no dedicated space to report discrimination or grievances.
Sivanandan cites his own suspension as an example. He noted that his suspension was following an empowered committee report. “According to the mandate, if the student involved belongs to the SC/ST category, the committee must include the liaison officer of the SC/ST Cell as a member, as well as the student union president. However, neither of them were part of the committee handling my case,” he said.
“The student union publicly objected, stating they had not been informed about the proceedings and demanded the opportunity to examine the matter. Meanwhile, the SC/ST Cell remained completely inactive and has taken no action to date. This situation highlights a broader issue: these cells in Indian universities often exist in name only and fail to function effectively. Their inability to collect and maintain relevant data stems from their role as mere rubber stamps, lacking real authority or purpose,” added Sivanandan.