Invitation to Launch of Study Confronting the Pandemic: Response and Recovery for Dalit and Adivasi students-Oct 19th, 9.30 AM, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

[Beena J]

Dear All,

Greetings and hope this email finds you well.

We would like to invite you to the launch of the study Confronting the Pandemic: Response and Recovery for Dalit and Adivasi students on Oct 19^th starting at 9.30 AM IST at Silver Oak, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.

The event will be a hybrid event, we  are having the launch physically in India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, India but for those of you who would not be able to participate physically please join us through this zoom link: bit.ly/ConfrontingThePandemic

The Government of India has instituted several schemes and programmes to promote higher education among SC/ST students. The Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme is the largest available scholarship. PMS provides financial assistance at the post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable students to complete their education. In addition to covering basic tuition, PMS offers a maintenance allowance, reimbursements for non-refundable compulsory fees charged by institutions, book-bank facility and other charges.

 

However, the PMS is fraught with systemic and fiscal challenges. The scheme is poorly designed, opaque in its operations, unaccountable, and suffers from a shortage of funds. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the higher education sector, which is one of the critical pathways to reduce the economic gap between marginalised communities and dominant groups. Government entitlements become even more important for students from marginalised communities to realise their right to education. COVID-19 has increased the existing disparity in access to education, and will do so further. It has exposed students from these communities to many more challenges like poor access to digital infrastructure, lack of financial resources and space, lack of livelihood opportunities and social protection. The pandemic has pushed many students towards informal employment, increasing their vulnerability.

 

It is in this context that National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR)-Dalit Adhikar Andolan (DAAA) initiated a survey-based study to identify the challenges faced by Dalit and Adivasi students in accessing higher education during the COVID crisis and subsequent lockdown. The study covered 10,190 students from marginalised communities across six states. Findings from the study indicate that COVID-19 forced students to prioritise survival over studies.

 

We would like to invite you all for the release of this study and together deliberate on enhancing the effectiveness and accountability of the systems through which the scheme is distributed; thereby increasing the accessibility of the government entitlements especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

We expect to prepare a clear roadmap of actionable points to address discrimination and exclusion faced by Dalit and Adivasi students in accessing public entitlements across the country.

For any further queries please contact Juno- +91- 8860557296 or Sindhu- +91- 9971800122

Jai Bhim

Kind Regards,

Beena J Pallical
General Secretary
NCDHR-National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights-DAAA
8/1 South Patel Nagar, 2nd Floor
New Delhi - 110 008

Mobile: +91 9958797404
be...@ncdhr.org.in
www.ncdhr.org.in