Govt. move to stop funds for social exclusion research questioned

0
606

Ghazanfar Abbas, IndiaTomorrow.net
New Delhi, March 18: When a vast section of Indian society still remains socially excluded due to discrimination, an unprecedented decision taken by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to stop funding to the ‘Centers for Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy’ in central universities has raised questions over the Narendra Modi government’s ‘inclusive’ policy – Sab Ka Saath Ka Vikas.

Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has received a letter from the University Grants Commission (UGC) which states that UGC is going to stop providing financial support to its Centre for the Study of Discrimination & Exclusion after the end of 12th Plan as per the order received from MHRD.

“I am directed to inform you that UGC will not provide financial support to the centre after the end of XIIth Plan as per the order received from MHRD (ministry of human resource development),” says the order quoted by The Telegraph, issued by UGC undersecretary Sushma Rathore.

“Further, the UGC will not be liable to the scheme of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy after the completion of XIIth Plan in any matter of functioning of the Centre; No communication whatsoever will be entertained or solicited by the UGC,” the letter says further.

The UGC letter has created a dilemma for the MPhil and PhD scholars enrolled in these centers and the professors who teach there.

This letter has been sent to those universities who have not upgraded these research centers to full-flagged departments that receive uninterrupted non-plan funds.

These research centers were set up under the 11th five-year plan (2007-2012) and then renewed in the 12th plan. But rather to renew them again under the 13th plan, the UGC has sent circulars to some of the universities that house such centers saying that their plan funding would end on March 31.

Since the execution of these centers is fully based on the funds allocated from the UGC in the respective year plan, this decision is being seen as a double jeopardy as it will not just affect the social exclusion research, but the faculty members may also lose their jobs due to funds unavailability to run these centers.

Speaking to IndiaTomorrow.net, Dr. Rahul Ramagundam, Associate Professor, ‘Center for study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy’ at Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi, has expressed his displeasure and concerns over the UGC notice.

“These are centers of importance considering the demography of our country. The downtrodden and marginalized sections of the society must be respected. These centers cater the needs of minorities and Dalits in the country by doing intensive research and try to find out their issues need to be addressed. The UGC can’t take such major decision. UGC should strengthen these centers rather than closing them down,” Dr. Rahul Ramagundam, said.

“I am more concerned about the teachers whose livelihood will be affected and the students whose enrolment will be affected by this decision,” he concerned.

“Our university has not received such letter as we have a full flagged center here at Jamia,” he added.

Dalit thinker and president of Republican Party of India (RPI), Ashok Bharti sees this decision by MHRD as a way through which government wants to hide the truth of social exclusion and discrimination in the country.

“The government doesn’t want to show that there is any discrimination in the country. This is a political decision where government clearly indicating that they don’t want anything which really strengthen the case of the socially excluded Dalits, Adivasi and minorities. Government is blocking the way through which inconvenient truths are revealed,” Ashok Bharti said.

“This certainly needs to be opposed as this exposes the government’s political intention,” he averred.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here