NCSC tells IIT-M to submit report on the number of SC/ST suicides - Nidian Express

NCSC tells IIT-M to submit report on the number of SC/ST suicides

She was talking to newspersons on the sidelines of Coordination Committee meeting of Federation of All IITs SC/ST Employees Associations.

Published: 30th November 2019 06:34 AM | Last Updated: 30th November 2019 06:34 AM | A+A A-
By Express News Service

CHENNAI: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Member, Swaraj Vidwaan, on Friday pulled up the Indian Institute of Technology- Madras for not recognising SC/ST Employees Welfare Association and asked the institute to submit a report on how many students among those who had killed themselves on the campus, belonged to SC/ST communities. 

She was talking to newspersons on the sidelines of Coordination Committee meeting of Federation of All IITs SC/ST Employees Associations.

“The institute does not have a SC/ST grievance redressal cell. Where would students and professors register their grievances? It should be formed immediately,” she said adding that the students, especially those belonging to SC/ST communities, face mental harassment in the institute. On the institute’s alleged failure to follow reservation, she said of the 2,320 students admitted to MS programme in the last 10 years, only 47 were from the Scheduled Caste community and six from Scheduled Tribe. Of the 3,846 admitted for PhD in the last 10 years, only 213 and 21 were from SC/ST.

A Commission staff told Express that the institute did not furnish data on the number of SC/ST students who killed themselves between 2006 and 2019. He said the institute would be issued with a formal notice. “Complaints were received from students that management refused to discuss increasing suicide cases and did not help readily.”

Situation in IIT Madras grave when it comes to SC/ST students and faculty, says NCSC member Swaraj Vidwaan - The Hindu

Situation in IIT Madras grave when it comes to SC/ST students and faculty, says NCSC member Swaraj Vidwaan

Pon Vasanth B.A
CHENNAI, NOVEMBER 29, 2019 14:25 IST




A view of the entrance of IIT Madras | Photo Credit: M. SRINATH

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes Member said employees from SC, ST and even OBC communities faced discrimination and mental harassment at the institution

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Member, Swaraj Vidwaan, on Friday said that the situation in IIT-Madras was grave and deeply concerning when it came to students and faculty belonging to Scheduled Castes, (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities.

Addressing media in the backdrop of the Coordination Committee meeting of the Federation of All IITs SC ST Employees Associations, for which she is the patron, Ms. Swaraj said that the reservation policy was not followed properly in faculty appointments and students admissions at IIT-Madras.

Ms. Swaraj said she had learnt from data collected by students and faculty members that of the 2,320 admissions made to M.S. programme in the last ten years, only 47 were from SC and six from ST communities. Similarly, she said that of the 3,846 Ph. D admissions in the last 10 years, only 213 were from SC and 21 from ST. “This is alarming,” she said.

The situation was the same when it came to the appointments and promotions of faculty members. “Reservation policy is not followed at all in engaging employees through outsourcing,” she said. She also said it was unjustifiable that the IIT-M administration has not recognised the SC ST Employees Welfare Association.

“Also, some of these issues could have been addressed if the SC ST Liaison Officer was discharging his duty properly. We hear that is not the case. The present officer must be changed,” she said.

Ms. Swaraj stressed the need to immediately form a functioning SC ST grievance redressal cell. She said that employees from SC, ST and even OBC communities faced discrimination, mental harassment, and lived in constant fear of receiving memos or other punitive action if they raised any issues.

Pointing out that she had visited at least three IITs before, Ms. Swaraj said the situation here seemed to be the worst. “The administration is functioning like a dictatorship,” she said, adding that all the students, including those from general communities faced numerous issues.

Highlighting that around 15 students have committed suicide in the last decade including the recent death of Fathima Latheef, she said the administration does not seem to have gone deep into the causes of these deaths and taken measures to prevent them. “I have sought details of how many of these students were from SC ST or OBC communities,” she said.

Stating that she had met the Director of IIT-Madras during this visit before all these issues were brought to her notice, she said she will issue a notice to the Director regarding all these issues. “I will also personally take it up with the President of India, Prime Minister, and the Minister for Human Resources Development since the issues are serious,” she said.

Dalit student's suicide: National Commission for SC alleges politics surrounding death - DNA

Dalit student's suicide: National Commission for SC alleges politics surrounding death

Tue, 19 Jan 2016-12:00am , Hyderabad , PTI

Noting that the names of Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and the university VC have been mentioned in the FIR in connection with the incident, P L Punia said there should be a fair investigation into it.

Alleging that "politics" had taken place in the alleged suicide of a Dalit student in the central university in Hyderabad, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) chairman P L Punia on Monday said the Commission would take up the issue strongly.

Rohit Vemula, a Dalit PhD scholar, was found hanging at the Central University's hostel room in the campus yesterday triggering protests from fellow students this morning. The deceased was among the five research scholars, who were suspended by the university in August last year and also one of the accused in the case of assault on a student leader.

Recalling the sequence of events in HCU with regard to the alleged suicide, Punia said, "When action was against them (students), Vice Chancellor took back the action also. A statement comes later. Politics happened in between."

"Dattatreyaji, Labour Minister, he is a senior leader. He writes a letter. That letter comes here. It starts moving in a circle. A total U-turn is taken. All this incident happened...," he said.

Speaking after visiting the university, he said he would seek a report from the police, administration and the university.

"The NCSC would take up the issue strongly," Punia said.

Noting that the names of Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya and the university VC have been mentioned in the FIR in connection with the incident, he said there should be a fair investigation into it.

Rohit's fellow students have demanded immediate removal of Dattatreya from the Union Cabinet alleging that he was instrumental in suspension of the students from the university.

Recalling an incident at IIT Madras earlier, Punia alleged that there is a pattern in the type of incidents that are happening, after the NDA government came to power, in which Dalit students are at the receiving end.

"There is a pattern. It happened in Madras IIT also. An anonymous complaint comes. It comes from Ministry of Human Resource Development and the IIT there de-recognises Ambedkar Periyar Study Circle, there be will no activity. They take all action. Same type of pattern. This (HCU incident) is also a pattern. Why this pattern happens for Scheduled Caste students after this government came to power. They start with make-believe stories and find the Scheduled Caste people culprit," Punia said.

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There is a cut in the budget for education, health, housing and sanitation which provide benefit to the SCs and Adivasis, he said. He said he would not like to comment on the investigation into the incident. Punia, however, said the Prevention of Atrocities Act provides for completion of investigation within 30 days.