UGC mandates formation of ‘Equity Committees’ in all higher education institutions to prevent discrimination

New Delhi: The United Grants Commission (UGC) through its newly notified regulations, has mandated the formation of ‘Equity Committees’ in all higher education institutions to address and prevent discrimination on campuses.

The Centre said this is to eradicate discrimination on the basis of religion, race, gender, place of birth, caste, or disability, particularly against the members of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, socially and educationally backward classes, economically weaker sections, people with disabilities.

In September, the Supreme Court had directed the UGC to consider a 10-point framework on caste bias in higher education, and had set a timeline of 8 weeks, while hearing a plea by the mothers of Rohith Vemula and Payal Tadvi, both students who died by suicide facing discrimination. The applicants had questioned the implementation of 2012 UGC regulations.

In its notification, the UGC has said that no higher education institution will permit or condone any form of discrimination, and that it is the duty of the head of the institution to see that these regulations are duly observed.

Directing college and university campuses to establish an Equal Opportunity Centre to oversee the effective implementation of the policies, the notification states that the centre must coordinate with civil society, local media, police, district administration, NGOs as well as with the District Legal Services Authority and the State Legal Services Authority.

The Equal Opportunity Centre must have an Equity Committee which will have as the chairperson the head of the institute, three faculty as well as a non-teaching staff as members, two representatives from civil society, and two students.

The Committee must have representation of Other Backward Classes, Persons with Disabilities, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and women. The Committee must meet at least twice a year, maintain a portal for complaints, among other duties.

The notification also mandates that every higher education institute establishes and operates an ‘Equity Helpline’ that will function round the clock.