| PYQ Relevance: Q) Debate the issue whether and how contemporary movements for assertion of Dalit identity work towards annihilation of caste. (UPSC CSE 2015) |
Mentor’s Comment: UPSC mains have always focused on Inequality (2020), ‘Caste System’ (2018 & 2020), and ‘Inclusive Growth’ (2022).
The Human Rights Watch Report of 2007 reports that nearly 60% of children who drop out of school are Dalit children, indicating significant barriers that lead to high dropout rates within this community.
Today’s editorial addresses the systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities, particularly Dalits, in accessing quality education in India. This content can be used in your Mains answer to highlight how caste-based discrimination continues to impact educational opportunities, thereby perpetuating cycles of poverty and inequality.
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Let’s learn!
Why in the News?
One Dalit student’s plight gained significant attention on social media, leading the Supreme Court to intervene and grant him admission by exercising its extraordinary powers under Article 142, highlighting the systemic inequalities that often leave deserving students without opportunities.
- He had nearly lost his admission to IIT Dhanbad after missing the fee payment deadline due to financial constraints and technical issues
| Key Highlights of “Hidden Apartheid” in India (Human Rights Watch Report 2007): • Literacy Rates: As of the Census of India 2011, the literacy rate among Dalits is 66.1%, significantly lower than the national average of 73%. • Enrollment Rates: Between 1983 and 2000, enrollment rates for Dalit boys increased from 47.7% to 63.25%. In comparison, upper-caste boys’ enrollment rose from 73.22% to 82.92% during the same period. • Female Enrollment Disparities: The enrollment rate for Dalit girls improved from 15.72% to 32.61%, while upper-caste girls’ enrollment climbed from 43.56% to 59.15%, indicating a stark contrast in educational access between genders and castes. • Dropout Rates: Informal data suggests that nearly 60% of children who drop out of school are Dalit children, indicating significant barriers that lead to high dropout rates within this community.By 1931, only 4% of Dalit children had access to primary education despite educational policies being established decades earlier, reflecting a long history of exclusion from educational opportunities. • Systemic Barriers: The report emphasizes ongoing practices of “untouchability” and discrimination that create hostile environments for Dalit students in educational institutions, further complicating their access to quality education. |
What are the major challenges presently faced by Dalit students in the Indian Education system?
While past restrictions were overt, contemporary obstacles are more insidious, manifesting through rising tuition fees and financial barriers.
- Rise in Tuition Fees: Under the “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan,” the Government of India has promoted self-reliance in educational institutions, resulting in significant tuition hikes at prestigious colleges such as the IITs and IIMs.
- For example, in 2016, IITs raised undergraduate tuition fees by 200%, escalating costs from ₹90,000 to ₹3 lakh annually. Similarly, recent increases at IIMs have seen fees rise by nearly 30% at some institutions.
- Insufficient Support Measures: In response to criticism over these fee increases, the government introduced the Vidyalakshmi scheme, which offers interest-free scholarships for marginalized communities.
- However, this initiative falls short of addressing the broader financial challenges faced by Dalit students as tuition continues to soar, despite their academic achievements.
- The NCRB Data (2021) revealed that over the past seven years, 122 students from IITs and IIMs took their own lives, with many citing financial stress and employment anxiety.
- Prevailing Disparities: An RTI filed by IIT-Bombay students further exposed the disparities, showing that 24 departments had no SC faculty, 15 lacked ST representation, and nine had no OBC faculty. A 2019 report revealed that 95% of faculty positions in IITs were held by individuals from upper-caste backgrounds.
- These statistics highlight the deep-rooted caste-based inequalities that persist in both employment and education.
- The issue of dropouts: Many students who manage to enroll themselves in prestigious institutions eventually drop out due to their inability to afford rising education fees.
- The HRD Ministry reported that 2,461 students dropped out of IITs in just two years (2017 and 2018). In 2023, this issue was raised in the Lok Sabha, revealing that over the past five years, more than 13,500 students from the SC/ST/OBC had dropped out of courses in the central universities.
| Previous Government Initiatives: • Scholarship Schemes: Various scholarship programs are available for Dalit students, including the Post-Matric Scholarship Scheme, which provides financial assistance for education beyond matriculation, ensuring that economic barriers do not prevent Dalit students from pursuing higher education. • Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS): This research institute focuses on studying issues related to Dalits and has contributed to formulating guidelines against caste-based discrimination in schools. • Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry: DICCI promotes entrepreneurship among Dalits by providing support and resources for business development. Its initiatives aim to empower Dalit youth to become job creators rather than job seekers. • Protection of Civil Rights Act (1955) and Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (1989): These acts are designed to prevent atrocities against Dalits and ensure their rights are protected. They provide legal recourse for victims of caste-based discrimination and violence, although implementation has faced challenges. Did you know? A recent survey in 29 States on urban sewer and septic tank workers revealed that 92% belong to SC/ST/OBC. |
Way Forward:
- Strengthen Reservation Policies: Establish robust mechanisms to monitor compliance with reservation policies and hold institutions accountable for non-compliance.
- Address Discrimination and Hostility: Enforce strict anti-discrimination policies and training programs within educational institutions, ensuring that any caste-based harassment is addressed promptly.
- Promote Mental Health Support: Create peer mentoring programs that connect Dalit students with mentors who can provide guidance and support.
- Reform Employment Opportunities: Enhance job placement services for Dalit graduates, ensuring they have access to employment opportunities post-education.
