Suicides by Dalit students in premier educational institutions: NHRC issues notice to Union Ministry of Human Resource Development.
New Delhi, 5th June, 2013
The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the concerned Secretary in the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development on the basis of a media report alleging fierce caste based discrimination and violence in the hostel of Dalit students in Patna University early this year. The Commission has also received a complaint from an NGO, Navsarjan Trust of Ahmedabad, quoting media reports that 18 Dalit students committed suicides during the last four years in premier educational institutions of the country including, among others, IIT, Mumbai, IIS, Bengaluru, IIT, Kanpur, AIIMS, New Delhi. He has been given four weeks time to respond.
The Commission has observed that the news report, if true, reflects widespread prevalence of discrimination towards Dalits in the educational institutions driving them to take extreme steps. The State has the responsibility and duty to ensure that an atmosphere is created in educational institutions wherein everyone, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, can pursue studies. The Constitution of India has also elaborate provisions to stop discrimination against the Dalits .
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The National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the concerned Secretary in the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development on the basis of a media report alleging fierce caste based discrimination and violence in the hostel of Dalit students in Patna University early this year. The Commission has also received a complaint from an NGO, Navsarjan Trust of Ahmedabad, quoting media reports that 18 Dalit students committed suicides during the last four years in premier educational institutions of the country including, among others, IIT, Mumbai, IIS, Bengaluru, IIT, Kanpur, AIIMS, New Delhi. He has been given four weeks time to respond.
The Commission has observed that the news report, if true, reflects widespread prevalence of discrimination towards Dalits in the educational institutions driving them to take extreme steps. The State has the responsibility and duty to ensure that an atmosphere is created in educational institutions wherein everyone, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, can pursue studies. The Constitution of India has also elaborate provisions to stop discrimination against the Dalits .
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