Casteist & Biased decision of UGC to close “Centers of Study of Social Inclusion and Exclusion” !!
National Coalition on SCSP/TSP Legislation
We Condemn the Casteist and biased Decision of the University Grants Commission (UGC) to scrap “Centers of Study of Social Inclusion and Exclusion” (CSSIEs)
The University Grant Commission (UGC) in its meeting held on May 10, 2013 about the discontinuation of the current Scheme, namely the “Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy” (CSSEIP), which is highly discriminatory and which will have a negative impact on the generation of knowledge needed to address exclusion faced by Dalits.
The pattern followed by UGC raises serious question on the nature of the implementation of SCSP in UGC - resources under SCSP are largely deviated away from SCs and to make matters worse, effective schemes like Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy (CSSEIP) are discontinued. Currently there are 32 CSSEIP centers attached to the Universities to undertake research and teaching on Dalit, Adivasis, Other Backward Castes and Religious Minorities concerns across the country, including remote areas like North East and other regions. Over 100 faculty and another 100 non-teaching staff have been appointed and all the centres are running well. As per the information gathered informally, these Centers have completed over 100 major and minor research projects, published almost 500 publications which include books, papers in Journals, research papers working papers and others, organized over 200 seminars and conferences /workshop, arranged about 100 lectures and produced 55 M Phil and about 45 PhD students across all the CSSEIP centres.
It is noticed that despite such track record of generation of knowledge, the UGC has taken this decision without any due assessment or proper review of the programme/Scheme nor did it consult with the Centres.
It is further noticed that the Women Study Centres and the Epoch Making Social Thinkers Scheme, which are of similarly targeted oriented Schemes, are continued, the CSSEIPs are discontinued. Even if the Centres of CSSEIP have ‘not taken off well’ in the last plan period, it is necessary to allocate extra funds and resources to ensure their effective functioning. This is nothing but a prejudiced and biased decision without any substantiated evidence.
As per the information given by UGC, out of the total allocation of Rs.780 Cr. towards SCSP, the total amount towards direct schemes for the SCs only RS. 63.36 Cr. is spent on SCs in the year 2011-12. The details are annexed. The rest of the allocations have been made as Grants to Central universities, universities and to colleges which are merely notional programmes. This indicates that the reason given for the discontinuation of the CSSEIPs are in fact not shortage of funds, as stated, but mere prejudice and bias against SCs, STs and other excluded communities. This is a gross violation of the overall constitutional policies as well as a violation of policy and spirit of the Scheduled caste Sub Plan.
Therefore we demand:
- · UGC should immediately take back its decision to scrap CSSIEP
- · A review committee comprising of student representatives, community
members and concerned citizens be formed to look into issues faced by CSSIEP in
various universities and recommend concrete steps for its development.
- · Immediately fill-up all vacancies in CSSIEP.
- · Take steps to initiate CSSIEP programme in all the universities in the
country.
- · Increase the budgetary allocation as per the need of such centres for
promoting research and publication with the help of Scheduled Caste Sub Plan
and Tribal Sub Plan.