Caste Discrimination in Higher Education

The tragic suicides of Rohith Vemula in 2016 and Payal Tadvi in 2019 due to caste-based discrimination have highlighted ongoing issues of bias in India’s universities. In response, the mothers of these students filed a petition, prompting the Supreme Court to direct the University Grants Commission (UGC) to act on caste discrimination in higher education.

Key Findings:

• Suicides and Discrimination: Rohith Vemula, a Dalit scholar, and Payal Tadvi, a tribal medical student, died by suicide after facing caste-based harassment. This has led to public outcry over the continued discrimination in universities.
• From 2004 to 2024, 115 Dalit student suicides were reported, many linked to caste discrimination.
• Caste-based discrimination continues to affect students' mental health, academic success, and overall well-being.
• According to an RTI reply in 2024,
  • 8% of faculty members in 13 IIMs are from the dominant castes
  • Dalit faculty members constitute 5%, Adivasis 1%, and other backward castes (OBC) 9.6%.
  • Similarly, 80% of the faculty in 21 IITs are from the dominant castes, while Dalits make up 6%, Adivasis 1.6%, and OBCs 11.2%.
  • In some educational institutes, there isn’t a single faculty member from marginalised communities
• UGC Response: The UGC has drafted new regulations (2025) to promote equity in higher education, including the establishment of Equal Opportunity Cells and SC/ST Cells to handle caste discrimination complaints.

Reasons Behind Caste Discrimination in Academia:

• Deep-Rooted Social Hierarchies: Casteism is ingrained in India's social fabric, and it influences educational institutions. While the caste system is officially abolished, its legacy persists, with high-caste individuals continuing to hold social and institutional power.
• Bias Against Affirmative Action: Students and faculty who benefit from reservations are frequently stigmatized as being "less competent" or as occupying positions they did not deserve. This leads to resentment and exclusion.
• Institutional Practices: In many cases, educational institutions fail to adequately implement policies that ensure equal treatment, such as the provision of Equal Opportunity Cells and the enforcement of anti-discrimination regulations. This lack of accountability perpetuates discrimination. 

Impact of Caste Discrimination in Academia:

• Psychological and Emotional Toll: Discrimination severely affects the mental health of students and faculty from marginalized communities. The emotional strain caused by social exclusion, harassment, and the constant need to prove one’s worth can lead to stress, anxiety, and in extreme cases, suicide.
• Academic and Professional Setbacks: Discriminatory practices hinder the academic progress of marginalized students. Exclusion from academic networks, lack of support from faculty, and unequal treatment in assessments prevent these students from excelling. Additionally, caste-based discrimination reduces their chances of securing positions within academia or professional fields.
• Widening Inequality: Caste-based discrimination entrenches educational inequality. Students from marginalized communities are often denied equal opportunities to succeed, resulting in reduced representation in higher education, academia, and professional spheres, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and marginalization.

Government Interventions and Inadequacies:

• Constitutional Protections and Legal Framework: The Indian Constitution provides legal safeguards against caste discrimination, including reservations for Dalits and STs in educational institutions and public employment. However, the implementation of these protections remains uneven, and caste-based practices continue to persist in many universities and colleges.
• UGC Guidelines and Policies: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued several guidelines to address caste-based discrimination, including the establishment of Equal Opportunity Cells and anti-discrimination committees. Despite these efforts, there are often delays and failures in enforcing these measures, and reports suggest that discriminatory practices remain widespread.
• Educational Reform and Monitoring: Although the government has acknowledged the problem and introduced schemes like fee reductions, scholarships, and establishing more institutions for marginalized communities, critics argue that the systemic issue of caste discrimination is not being tackled adequately. Monitoring systems to track complaints and the outcomes of anti-discrimination measures are often inefficient, and many institutions fail to create a truly inclusive academic environment.
• TheThorat Committee Report (formed in 2007) stated that SC/ST students experienced various forms of discrimination by teachers, from avoidance, contempt and non-cooperation to discouragement and differential treatment. However, the recommendations have largely been ignored.
  • Mungekar Committee (2012) has also acknowledged the prevalence of caste discrimination and the exclusion of marginalised students on campuses.
• Rohith Act: The Act, proposed in 2016, to prevent caste discrimination against Dalit students in higher educational institutions, still hasn’t been passed.