Caste-Based Discrimination in Higher Education

• Higher education is one of the most important ways to achieve socioeconomic mobility, psychological liberation and mental autonomy. However, in India, Caste-Based Discrimination in Higher Education, including Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), at different levels face systemic barriers that hamper their access to quality higher education.
• The challenges, rooted in historical inequalities, financial constraints, and institutional biases, perpetuate disparities and obstruct the progress toward goals of social justice & inclusive development.

Challenges in Accessing Higher Education for Marginalised Communities

• Financial Constraints: Rising tuition fees in institutions like IITs and IIMs, along with limited financial aid, make education unaffordable for marginalised students, often resulting in loans that further discourage participation.
• Caste-Based Discrimination: Students from SC, ST, and OBC communities face peer and faculty discrimination, stereotyping, and harassment, leading to significant psychological tolls, as highlighted by incidents like the suicide of Rohith Vemula.
• Institutional Barriers: Marginalised students face high dropout rates due to financial strain and lack of institutional support, compounded by the underrepresentation of these communities in faculty positions in prestigious institutions.
• Limited Access to Quality Education: Poor infrastructure, inadequate resources in rural schools, and high dropout rates at secondary education levels hinder marginalised students’ access to quality education, limiting their chances for higher studies.
• Policy Gaps and Implementation Issues: Affirmative action policies face challenges like unfilled reserved seats and delayed scholarships, while often overlooking the intersectional issues faced by women from marginalised communities.
• Psychological and Social Pressures: Marginalised students endure immense pressure to perform in an isolating environment, leading to low self-esteem and mental health issues, including suicides, due to the stigma of being from a reserved category.

Implications of Caste-Based Discrimination in Higher Education

• Perpetuation of Inequality: Exclusion from higher education keeps marginalised communities trapped in low-income jobs, limiting upward mobility.
• Loss of Talent: Discrimination prevents talented individuals from reaching their potential, leading to a loss for society and the economy.
• Underrepresentation in Leadership: Lack of representation in education results in a few marginalised individuals in leadership roles, reinforcing systemic bias. For example, 90% of leadership roles in Indian media are held by dominant caste groups.
• Threat to Social Justice: Exclusion from quality education undermines India’s constitutional goal of equality and social justice for all.
• Psychological and Social Consequences: Continuous discrimination and exclusion from quality education cause mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem while perpetuating a cycle of caste-based stigmas that affect marginalised students’ well-being and prospects for social mobility.

Measures to Address Challenges in Accessing Higher Education

1. Financial Assistance and Scholarships: Allocate more funds to scholarships for SC, ST, and OBC students, ensure timely disbursal of financial aid, and offer fee waivers or reduced fees for economically weaker students.
2. Strengthening Primary and Secondary Education: Improve infrastructure in marginalised areas, enhance teacher training for inclusive education, and introduce retention programs like free mid-day meals and textbooks to reduce dropout rates.
3. Combating Caste-Based Discrimination: Conduct awareness campaigns, incorporate social justice leaders’ works into curricula, facilitate open dialogues on caste, establish grievance redressal mechanisms, and increase faculty diversity.
4. Policy Reforms: Implement policies with an intersectional approach addressing caste, gender, and economic status, review and expand reservation policies, and strengthen monitoring and accountability mechanisms for affirmative action.
5. Mental Health Support: Provide psychological counseling and support services in educational institutions, and encourage peer mentorship programs to help marginalised students navigate academic and social challenges.
6. Leveraging Technology: Use digital platforms and technology to enhance access to quality education in remote areas and simplify scholarship application processes through online portals.
7. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Mandate private companies to support marginalised students through scholarships, internships, and mentorship programs as part of their CSR initiatives.

Way Forward

• Financial Support and Scholarships: Increase scholarships, fee waivers, and ensure timely disbursal of funds to marginalised communities.
• Combating Discrimination and Policy Reforms: Implement awareness programs, & grievance redressal systems, and review reservation policies to address caste-based discrimination & ensure effective policies.
• Strengthening Education Foundations: Improve infrastructure, enhance teacher training, and promote digital learning to provide equal opportunities for marginalised communities.
• Mental Health and Peer Support: Provide counseling services and encourage peer mentorship to support marginalized students emotionally and socially.
• Corporate Engagement: Encourage private sector participation in supporting marginalized students through CSR initiatives.

By taking comprehensive actions to bridge the gaps, India can honor its constitutional commitment to equality and social justice, ensuring marginalised communities access to quality higher education and contributing to the nation’s progress.

Reference: The Hindu

PMF IAS Pathfinder for Mains – Question 41

Q. Analyse the challenges faced by marginalised communities in accessing higher education in India and suggest measures to address them. (250 Words) (15 Marks)

Approach

• Introduction: Begin by highlighting the importance of higher education for socio-economic mobility and intellectual empowerment.
• Body: Highlight the key challenges presented by the issue and the measures to address challenges.
• Conclusion: Emphasise the importance of education in fostering equality and inclusive growth.