Nagpur: After suicide of PG Medical student Dr Payal Tadvi in Mumbai, medical students of Schedule Caste (SC) and Schedule Tribes (ST) community are in state of shock.
Nagpur-based Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Student Federation, a group consisting mainly medical students, has claimed that caste atrocities against the students of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes studying in Medical Colleges across the state have been increased remarkably.
Members have written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and appealed him implement the recommendations of a three-member committee that was constituted in AIIMS New Delhi years ago to enquire into the allegations of differential treatment given to SC/ST students in AIIMS.
In 2007, then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh set up the Thorat Committee following grave and widespread allegations of differential treatment and discrimination against students belonging to SC/ST and Adivasi sections of society at AIIMS New Delhi. The committee had given some good recommendations but they are still not applied in any of the medical college in Maharashtra, claimed Dr. Siddhant Bharne, president of the Federation.
“The committee formed under the chairmanship of prof Sukhdeo Thorat had given very good suggestions which could have been implemented not only by AIIMS but any Government-run medical college and hospital. Unfortunately, no medical college in Maharashtra followed any of the recommendation,” he said.
The letter addressed to the Chief Minister states that SC/ST students had to face atrocities like discrimination in teaching, discrimination in evaluation of theory paper and in practical and Viva, lack of consultation and interaction, sort of segregation on caste line basics, social isolation, and ragging with serious caste overtones. Both Undergraduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) medical students face several forms of humiliations, the letter adds.
When TOI contacted some leading medical colleges in State, the medical superintendents here accepted that the separate cell for SC/ST students are not formed till date. Most of them countered that there are anti-ragging cells as well separate cell for girl students’ safety. Registrar of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) Dr K D Chavan said he could comment only after enquiring in medical colleges. A senior official from Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) also accepted that there are student welfare departments and anti-ragging modules in medical institutes but no separate cell for SC/ST students in spite of recommendations of UGC. However, none of these officials came on record stating that the matter is presently in court.
ONLY ON PAPER:
Directives by Central Government and UGC:
To safeguard the interests of SC/ST community in fully Government funded institutes for education, the institutions are required to set up the following mechanism:
Setting up of SC/ST cell with a necessary staff to deal with reservation policy for student, faculty and staff.
An office of liaison officer, often attached to SC/ST Cell
A Grievance Cell for Students and
Counseling Committee
Recommendations of AIIMS Delhi Committee:
Institute should set up a Joint Committee, comprising of students, residents and faculty to study the social atmosphere in campus and develop an insight for the social division that has emerged over a period.
Governing body of the institute should take necessary steps to remedy the situation and develop a policy and mechanism to regain the social harmony in the campus
ST/ST students should be nominated as representative on all Committees dealing with matter related to students.
Authority should develop the norms and regulations for the working of this Committee, which will be fair, transparent and democratic.
Nagpur-based Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar National Student Federation, a group consisting mainly medical students, has claimed that caste atrocities against the students of Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes studying in Medical Colleges across the state have been increased remarkably.
Members have written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and appealed him implement the recommendations of a three-member committee that was constituted in AIIMS New Delhi years ago to enquire into the allegations of differential treatment given to SC/ST students in AIIMS.
In 2007, then Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh set up the Thorat Committee following grave and widespread allegations of differential treatment and discrimination against students belonging to SC/ST and Adivasi sections of society at AIIMS New Delhi. The committee had given some good recommendations but they are still not applied in any of the medical college in Maharashtra, claimed Dr. Siddhant Bharne, president of the Federation.
“The committee formed under the chairmanship of prof Sukhdeo Thorat had given very good suggestions which could have been implemented not only by AIIMS but any Government-run medical college and hospital. Unfortunately, no medical college in Maharashtra followed any of the recommendation,” he said.
The letter addressed to the Chief Minister states that SC/ST students had to face atrocities like discrimination in teaching, discrimination in evaluation of theory paper and in practical and Viva, lack of consultation and interaction, sort of segregation on caste line basics, social isolation, and ragging with serious caste overtones. Both Undergraduate (UG) and Post Graduate (PG) medical students face several forms of humiliations, the letter adds.
When TOI contacted some leading medical colleges in State, the medical superintendents here accepted that the separate cell for SC/ST students are not formed till date. Most of them countered that there are anti-ragging cells as well separate cell for girl students’ safety. Registrar of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) Dr K D Chavan said he could comment only after enquiring in medical colleges. A senior official from Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) also accepted that there are student welfare departments and anti-ragging modules in medical institutes but no separate cell for SC/ST students in spite of recommendations of UGC. However, none of these officials came on record stating that the matter is presently in court.
ONLY ON PAPER:
Directives by Central Government and UGC:
To safeguard the interests of SC/ST community in fully Government funded institutes for education, the institutions are required to set up the following mechanism:
Setting up of SC/ST cell with a necessary staff to deal with reservation policy for student, faculty and staff.
An office of liaison officer, often attached to SC/ST Cell
A Grievance Cell for Students and
Counseling Committee
Recommendations of AIIMS Delhi Committee:
Institute should set up a Joint Committee, comprising of students, residents and faculty to study the social atmosphere in campus and develop an insight for the social division that has emerged over a period.
Governing body of the institute should take necessary steps to remedy the situation and develop a policy and mechanism to regain the social harmony in the campus
ST/ST students should be nominated as representative on all Committees dealing with matter related to students.
Authority should develop the norms and regulations for the working of this Committee, which will be fair, transparent and democratic.
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