Members of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities make up one-fourth of India (16.6% and 8.6% respectively). And yet, most Indian states struggle to ensure that at least 22.5% of students enrolled in higher education institutions are SC or ST.
There are millions of SC/ST citizens eligible for and in need of education. We have the infrastructure to support them. Why then, are the enrolment rates so abysmal? The simple answer lies in centuries of systemic discrimination and social exclusion that is meted out to members of these communities.
Caste-based discrimination continues to plague India, even in sacred places of learning like our educational campuses. Interestingly, the answer to the issue lies on these campuses too. Education is the tool that can empower and uplift the Dalit and Adivasi community.
To make this possible, India has affirmative action schemes like the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS), which can be availed by SC/ST students to pursue their educational endeavours class 11th onwards. However, the scholarship funds have not been distributed properly for years. Underfunding, delay in payments and more recently, a threat that the scheme may be scrapped altogether has made life tougher for over 60 lakh students.
On 15th December 2020, YKA hosted a Twitter chat in collaboration with National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR) featuring 5 panellists who have done exemplary work in fighting for the rights of the SC/ST community. Essentially, the chat sought to discuss the hurdles in the way of the PMS scheme and how improved access to higher education can be a way to fight social exclusion for Dalit and Adivasi students.
We’re live! Ask all your questions about Post-Matric Scholarships and barriers to access in higher education for #Dalit #Bahujan and #Adivasi students now!
Don’t forget to use #JaatiNahiAdhikaar and #SavePMS! pic.twitter.com/Krnzsz1cuG
— Youth Ki Awaaz (@YouthKiAwaaz) December 15, 2020
1. Post-Matric Scholarship – The Gaps In Its Implementation
Speaking about the hurdles in the way of the PMS scheme, Paul Divakar, one of the founding members of NCDHR, highlighted the 3 main obstacles.
2/3 – barriers in applicaiton process, ID verificatioin and eligibility norms and bureacratic delayes #savePMS#JatiNahiAdhikar
— Paul Divakar N (@PaulDivakarN) December 15, 2020
In addition to the insufficient funds, un-utilization of the funds (FY-2020-21, only Rs. 1,028 Cr. out of Rs. 2986 Cr spent still now), No transparency in the fund flow State-wise the process differs, like money by DBT, treasury, college authorities #savePMS
— Paul Divakar N (@PaulDivakarN) December 15, 2020
Adikanda Singh, Advocacy Officer, NCDHR, further drew attention to another glaring issue in its implementation.
There is also a mismatch between the allocation and the demand and seldom the govt does not really engage to understand the needs of the community #JaatiNahiAdhikaar #SavePMS
— Adikanda Singh (@sngh_adikanda) December 15, 2020
2/2 Many people are not aware of the demand, but NCDHR has been working to strengthen the implementation of PMS. As in 2015-16, the pending scholarship was Rs 13,000 Cr and due to @dalitrights work along with other orgs the pending amount was released #JaatiNahiAdhikaar #SavePMS
— Adikanda Singh (@sngh_adikanda) December 15, 2020
2. Representation In The Media And Caste On Campus
A key reason for continued caste-based discrimination in India is the dearth of discussion about it in mainstream media. Meena Kotwal, a journalist who has done extensive reportage on Dalit and Adivasi issues, spoke about the problems with today’s media landscape.
मीडिया ही नहीं बल्कि सुप्रीम कोर्ट के 31 जजों में आज भी दलित समाज से केवल एक जज है, ओबीसी के दो और एसटी का तो एक भी नहीं है?
क्या कारण है कि मेनस्ट्रीम मीडिया में एक भी संपादक दलित समाज से नहीं है?#JaatiNahiAdhikaar #SavePMS @YouthKiAwaaz @PriyankaSamy https://t.co/yKANmqoR8T
— Meena Kotwal (मीना कोटवाल) (@KotwalMeena) December 15, 2020
अगर मौके बराबर मिलते तो बाबा साहेब को सौ साल पहले ही खुद का मीडिया खड़ा करने और मूकनायक को लाने के बारे में सोचना ना पड़ता. जो हालात सौ साल पहले थे वे आज भी जस के तस बने हुए हैं और दलित/आदिवासी पत्रकारों को अपना मीडिया लाना पड़ रहा है@YouthKiAwaaz @PriyankaSamy #JatiNahiAdhikar https://t.co/9SiN1jJps2
— Meena Kotwal (मीना कोटवाल) (@KotwalMeena) December 15, 2020
मीडिया देश-दुनिया और समाज की बात करता है लेकिन जाति सामने आते ही मौन क्यों हो जाता है, क्यों एक खास वर्ग से जुड़े मुद्दे ही उन्हें दिखाई देते हैं, क्यों न्यूज़रूम में सवर्ण ही सवर्ण दिखाई देते हैं?⁰⁰
मीडिया को इस मुद्दे पर चुप्पी तोड़नी होगी.#JaatiNahiAdhikaar #SavePMS https://t.co/WESBH61A9T— Meena Kotwal (मीना कोटवाल) (@KotwalMeena) December 15, 2020
Educational campuses tell similar stories, with Dalit and Adivasi students facing discrimination of various forms. Anjali (Media & Communications Officer, NCDHR) explains:
administration, academic enlightenment is a life-threatening journey for Dalit and Adivasi students. They are often questioned for their merit and treated as unworthy,often leading them to drop out of institutions or even ending their lives, namely Rohith Vemula,Payal Tadvi 2/n
— | Anjii – द Lit 🔥| (@Anjii_95) December 15, 2020
3. What About SC/ST Women And Queer Individuals?
The already marginalised Dalit and Adivasi identity gets even more oppressive when the intersection of ‘female’ and/or ‘queer’ become a prefix. Filmmaker Priyadarshini P (Founder, The Blue Club) and Anjali (Media & Communications Officer, NCDHR) addressed their plight.
We are well aware that within SC/ST students the presence of women SC/ST candidates in higher educations is very less due to gender discrimination in our society; practices such as early marriage, dropping out of school when they come of age etc #JaatiNahiAdhikaar #SavePMS
— The Blue Club (@TheBlueClub1) December 15, 2020
Therefore, in addition to saving the PMS , affirmative actions such as scholarships and safe spaces for women and queer persons from SC/ST communities should be put in place within educational institutions.⁰ #JaatiNahiAdhikaar #SavePMS
— The Blue Club (@TheBlueClub1) December 15, 2020
that of Muslim women. https://t.co/A8xs9gpJ6s
Most of the beneficiaries of PMS are first-generation literates whose families are socio-economically depressed. Scholarship is the backbone of access to education for 5/n— | Anjii – द Lit 🔥| (@Anjii_95) December 15, 2020
4. The Way Forward 一 On Passing The Mic And Being Better Allies
Priyadarshini and Anjali further spoke about ways in which we challenge such discrimination. A popular saying that has done the rounds in this regard is ‘pass the mic’. Priyadarshini addressed whether they’ve been enough:
No way. 400 years of oppression cannot be undone by simply “passing the mic”.There are so much of structural, cultural, political, economical and social changes needs to be done for any change to happen.#JaatiNahiAdhikaar #SavePMS
— The Blue Club (@TheBlueClub1) December 15, 2020
We really hope more emerging intersectional grassroots movements like ours led by Dalit Adivasi youngsters start grabbing the mic and stop misrepresentation of themselves in the popular discourse: prevent monolithic ideas of what it is to be a Dalit or Adivasi. #SavePMS
— The Blue Club (@TheBlueClub1) December 15, 2020
Concluding the discussion, Anjali spoke about how discrimination can be challenged by allies of the anti-caste movement in a better way.
our own networks and we are succeeding in it. When we talk about how one can be an ally to the anti-caste movement, we must first acknowledge that caste is not a matter of the past but it governs our daily life be it personal or professional even today. Listening to Dalits 2/n
— | Anjii – द Lit 🔥| (@Anjii_95) December 15, 2020
and their struggles must be a prominent role of an ally in the movement. Especially one must acknowledge and listen to dalit women and dalit lgbtq views as they lie at the bottom of the social hierarchy facing caste based discrimination as well as patriarchy within and outside3/n
— | Anjii – द Lit 🔥| (@Anjii_95) December 15, 2020
Dalits don’t want to be saved by anyone as they are capable enough to act by themselves. Instead, use the privilege you have to amplify dalit voices and use the same privilege to create spaces for Dalits. Moreover do not invalidate their experiences as a person belonging to 8/n
— | Anjii – द Lit 🔥| (@Anjii_95) December 15, 2020
What are your thoughts about these issues? Share them with us and help us amplify the conversation around caste-based discrimination with #JaatiNahiAdhikaar!