Disparity based on class, caste, ethnicity, region, religion and gender continues as a social reality of our country in spite of legal provisions to bring equality in social life. These are man-made inequalities being practiced by dominant communities against the marginalised sections as it is more visible in case of poor, low caste, backward region, linguistic and religious minority and women.
Unfortunately the State run institutions such as Anganwadi in village or universities in cities are not free from various forms of discrimination. A recent case of suicide by research scholar Rohit Vemula in Hyderabad Central University (HCU) has triggered the issue of institutional discrimination. It is said by many that Rohit was a victim of institutional discrimination.
It is not just Rohit, but thousands of students face discrimination in their everyday life not only in universities but also at Anganwadis. It is a reflection of our collective social consensuses continued since centuries. It perpetuates abhorrence, violence, and disrespect for human being and continues as a potential threat to human dignity. It will further disintegrate our political unity and pose more challenge to social understanding and economic growth. It is important to think about such issues while we are celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedker who had dreamed for a discrimination free society through annihilation of caste. Rohit was a member of Ambedker Student Association that propagates the ideas of Dr BR Ambedker, which are also placed in the constitution of our country.
It is fact that not only the Government run institutions from villages to cities but also the private run institutions also have not paid adequate attention to the issues of caste-based discrimination as a result of which this has been continuing in new forms.
While we are moving towards privatisation of education and other service delivery institutions for the poor and marginalised, the issues have become more complex. The economic liberalisation process has not integrated social issues as a result of which it will further exclude the socially marginalised groups. The corporate foundations spending under corporate social responsibility schemes have no social reform agenda to address the social issues while the focus is on only building economic charity for the marginalised. It is being argued by many that only focus on economic development cannot bring social change.
Non-economic issues are vital to economic development especially in a complex society with huge diversity, disparity and full of discrimination inherited from a continued history of centuries. The most planned economic welfare programme in the post independent India by the Government for the marginalised has not changed their social status from poor beneficiaries to dignified citizens of the country.
The current news from different parts of the country shows that institutions run by Government have not been strictly enforced laws against discrimination and necessary attempt has not been made to change the mindset of the people managing such institutions. In this context, the experience in Odisha is almost similar to other parts of the country.
In rural areas of the State, the service providers of various social welfare schemes which are specially meant for the marginalised sections have not changed their mindset towards the marginalised communities. It was evident in 2014 that Parsuram Munda (2) of Jhumpura block in Keonjhar district was attacked by an Anganwawadi helper by throwing hot water because he just touched the boiled egg kept to serve the children. There are reports on various forms of discrimination such as practices of un-touchability during mid-day meal and Swaraswati and Ganesh Puja and other social functions in schools, forcing Dalit children to clean the dining space after mid-day meal and school toilets, calling Dalit and Adivasi children by their caste and community names in class room and public functions and many more from districts of Kendrapada, Dhenkanal, Jajpur and Ganjam but many such cases are under reported from all over the State. Dalit and Adivasi women are not preferred to get appointed as cook or other service provider in caste Hindu villages. The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribe students are routinely humiliated and harassed by their teachers and non-teaching staff of dominant communities. There is existence of separate hostels for SC and ST students in the educational campus. There have been campaigns under SSA for building schools as punishment free zones and clean zones with care for health and sanitation but very limited attempt has been made to develop our schools as discrimination free zones. The Aganwadi centres, primary schools, residential schools, ANM centres, child care centres in rural areas are not free from discriminations in many forms. The quality of food, service, and social environment build an inferior mindset among the poor and marginalised in rural villages.
The representation and participation of marginalised sections have been always restricted to a limited access to benefits. There are unwritten and hidden social restrictions systematically imposed and followed against the poor and marginalized.
The left dominated trade unions of service providers have not educated their members with civic and human rights education to practice non-discrimination in public institutions. They need to be educated about citizenship and democratic values placed in our constitution. Trade union movements are limited to economic benefits without any social commitment and reform in public institutions.
Added to caste, gender based discrimination is also very much prevalent in public institutions. The recent cases of harassment of lady professors of Revenshaw University by their male colleagues, is one of the example of gender based discrimination in higher educational institutions of our State. There are hundreds of such cases which go under reported and intervened by the Government.
The service providers are educated in our schools, colleges and universities where only formal degrees are given and very scanty attempt has been made by the Government to popularize anti-discriminatory laws as an important means of establishing equality. It is most unfortunate that our institutions of higher learning such as IITs and Central Universities are not free from discriminations of different forms. It is reported that during last five years, 25 students of universities have committed suicide out of which 23 were Dalits.
There were 11 Dalit students who committed suicide in HCU during 2007 to 2013. A three-member committee under the chairmanship of Prof SK Thorat was set up to inquire into the allegations of differential treatment of SC and ST students in All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), Delhi. The panel reported that the students face discrimination in hostel and by the faculty. The higher educational institutions are not following the constitutional provisions for the marginalised. The posts of teaching and non-teaching staff largely remain vacant.
All India survey of higher education report 2013-2014 says about inadequate representation of marginalised section in higher education posts and services. Odisha has 21 universities which include one Central University, three institute of national importance, 12 State universities, three private universities, two deemed private universities and about 850 colleges imparting education to the students from Odisha and outside. The available disaggregated data shows the insignificant representation of marginalised communities in the educational institutions. leave apart other issues such as timely payment of stipend, there are a number of cases of discrimination reported but never been discussed by the State Government to address the issues with priority.
The State Assembly committee of SC and ST members, advisory councils of STs and advisory board for SCs, State vigilance and monitoring committee are headed by the Chief Minister but these empowered bodies never discuss the issues of education of the marginalised barring a few routine works under the provision and as part of mandate to get central assistance.
The Government should introduce civic, human rights and citizenship education in school, college and universities along with strict enforcement of anti-discriminatory laws. Along with anti-rigging and gender justice laws there should be laws to fight caste-based discrimination in educational institutions to protect the marginalized students perusing education with all difficulties. Added to new legislations, the existing anti -discriminatory laws such as PCR Act, SC& ST (PoA) Amendment Act and The Sexual Harassment at Workplace Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act should be strictly enforced in all institutions. The institutions should creatively organise functions to promote brotherhood, social amity and respect for diversity and dignity. There should be periodical social audit of institutions by a committee to monitor the institutional discrimination with assessment and action to minimise discrimination and make all other effort to build our institutions as centre of equality and dignity.
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