28 December 2024 : The Hindu Editorial Analysis
1. Marginalised by caste, marginalised in education
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 6)
| Topic: GS2 – Social Justice – Education |
| Context |
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Supreme Court Intervention in Atul Kumar’s Case
- Atul Kumar, a Scheduled Caste student, lost his IIT Dhanbad seat due to an inability to pay the ₹17,500 seat booking fee.
- The Supreme Court of India exercised its extraordinary powers under Article 142 to grant him admission.
- Many similar cases go unnoticed, leaving deserving students deprived of opportunities due to financial constraints and systemic inequalities.
Rising Tuition Fees
- Government initiatives like “Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyan” have led to significant fee hikes in premier institutions.
- IIT undergraduate fees increased by 200% in 2016, rising from ₹90,000 to ₹3 lakh annually.
- IIM tuition fees have also risen significantly:
- IIM-Lucknow by 29.6%, IIM-Ahmedabad by 5%, and IIM-Calcutta by 17.3%.
- IIT-Delhi doubled its M.Tech semester fees from ₹26,450 to ₹53,100 in 2022-23.
- These increases make it difficult for marginalised students to afford higher education, even with schemes like Vidyalakshmi offering limited interest-free scholarships.
Impact on Marginalised Students
- Rising education costs disproportionately affect marginalised communities, preventing them from enrolling in prestigious institutions despite competitive ranks.
- Financial strain has contributed to 122 student suicides in IITs and IIMs between 2014 and 2021.
High Dropout Rates
- Many students drop out due to the inability to sustain the financial burden of education.
- Between 2017 and 2018, 2,461 students dropped out of IITs.
- Over five years, more than 13,500 SC, ST, and OBC students dropped out of central universities, IITs, and IIMs.
Historical and Ongoing Caste-Based Barriers
- Dalits are often confined to low-paying, undesirable jobs, perpetuating economic and social marginalisation.
- In urban sewer and septic tank work, 92% of workers belong to SC, ST, or OBC communities.
- Faculty representation in IITs is skewed, with 95% of positions held by upper-caste individuals.
- Many departments lack SC, ST, or OBC faculty altogether.
Persistent Challenges for Dalit Students
- Despite constitutional provisions, Dalit students face poverty, discrimination, and prejudice.
- Caste-based remarks and social isolation worsen their struggles, leading to emotional distress and, in some cases, suicides.
- Incidents in institutions like IIT Bombay and medical colleges highlight the pressing issue of casteism in education.
Employment Challenges for Marginalised Students
- Family expectations and high unemployment rates exacerbate the pressure on students.
- In 2024, 38% of IIT graduates (approximately 8,000 students) across 23 campuses remained unplaced.
- For marginalised communities, caste identity adds another layer of difficulty in securing jobs.
Conclusion
- Addressing rising fees, caste-based discrimination, and employment disparities is essential for fostering inclusive and equitable higher education and employment opportunities.
| PYQ: How have digital iniSaSves in India contributed to the functioning of the educational system in the country? Elaborate your answer. (250 words/15m) (UPSC CSE (M) GS-1 2020) |
| Practice Question: Rising tuition fees and systemic caste-based discrimination hinder access to quality education for marginalised communities in India. Discuss the implications of these barriers on social equity and suggest measures to make higher education more inclusive. (150 Words /10 marks) |
For more such UPSC related Current Affairs, Check Out: 27 December 2024 : Indian Express Editorial Analysis
