IIT Bombay suicide: Rights group says Solanki had told his sister about discrimination he faced at the institutehttps://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/iit-bombay-suicide-rights-group-says-solanki-had-told-his-sister-about-discrimination-he-faced-at-the-institute-23273509 PUCL: Merely holding some individuals responsible for the acts of Caste discrimination and providing solutions within criminal justice system.. will only result in shifting the responsibility from society, Institutes and Governments to few individuals... but provides no way forward to strike at the roots of Caste discrimination.
The statement said that what is required is to provide the students from marginalized communities academic institutes which are determined to counter caste hierarchy by institutionalizing measures and mechanisms to create an atmosphere which is inclusive.
The rights group emphasized that in case of Darshan Solanki’s death the Special Investigation Team must be completely transparent in their functioning and provide all available information and statements of any persons concerning this enquiry with his parents.
For full statement https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1EiGhAFu8Xpt0LApwfw90RiDyFdn-c_88
The statement calls for Enactment of a new legislation to respond to caste‐based discrimination in HEls at all India
level.
The primary focus and basis of such a legislation as to be:
• Explicit recognition of caste-based discrimination in educational institutions
• Places onus of providing a safe and secure environment on the management of the educational institutions
• Lay out a dedicated mechanism for redressal of complaints for every educational institution to abide by.
• Along with emphasising redressing acts of caste-based discrimination there must be an equal stress on creating awareness around caste discrimination and setting up of mechanisms to enable prevention.
• Processes under this legislation must involve all sections of people from the institution to implement this legislation, thus making this a shared responsibility of everyone.
• Persons from marginalised communities representing all sections of students and staff of the institution must form the majority of members on all committees made for the implementation of this act.
• These committees must also have participation of representatives of civil society members who have been active in anti-caste struggles.