After several notifications by the University Grants Commission, Bangalore University has finally notified its affiliated colleges to maintain a register for caste discrimination complaints in college campuses.
In a notification dated October 6, Bangalore University has asked college teachers, staff and students to be sensitive while dealing with incidents relating to caste discrimination and to report it immediately to concerned authorities.
“The officials/faculty should desist from any act of discrimination against SC/ST students on grounds of their social origin,” the notification states.
BU has asked Universities/Institutes/Colleges to develop a page on their website for lodging such complaints of caste discrimination against SC/ST students.
“Also place a ‘complaint register’ in the Registrar/Principal’s office for the purpose. If any such incident comes to the notice of authorities, action should be taken against the erring official/faculty members promptly,” the notification adds.
It has also asked authorities of educational institutes to take action within 15 days of cases being reported, and submit an “Action Taken Report” to Bangalore University, via email - bu2registrar@gmail.com. All Action Taken Reports will be forwarded to UGC from BU.
“This notification has been issued as the UGC has been continuously taking steps to monitor and prevent caste discrimination in higher education institutes. This includes complaints against non-teaching staff as well,” said Registrar of BU, BK Ravi.
In a letter dated May 15, the UGC had issued a notification to BU asking it to implement the policy regarding the complaint register for caste discrimination.
“As you are aware, the University Grants Commission is continuously monitoring the prevention of caste based discrimination in higher educational institutions. Further, the University Grants Commission had issued letters dated 19.07.2011, 02.07.2013, also letters dated 01.03.2016 and 05.09.2016 to request you to take the following action (setting up of caste discrimination registers with the same rules stated above),” the UGC letter states.
The UGC had also asked BU to notify the institutes under its ambit to set up committees to look into the complaints against caste discrimination.