Neel Kranti Media
On 6 September 2012, the National Commission of Scheduled Castes held a press conference at its office at Khan Market, New Delhi, regarding the complaints of rampant caste discrimination in Vardhman Medical College, New Delhi.
It is to be noted that the Dalit and Adivasi students of this medical college have been raising their voices and fighting against their harassment since last three years and have even filed court cases against the college administration but to no avail. However now it appears that their fight for justice is finally bearing some fruits.
Speaking to the press, Mr. PL Punia, Chairperson, NCSC, informed about the enquiry committee that was constituted, one year ago, to look into this matter, under the chairmanship of Prof. Bhalchandra Mungekar, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) who is also former Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University and member of Planning Commission.
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Presenting the report of the enquiry committee, Prof Mungekar said, “Dalit and Adivasi students are being harassed by the faculties of Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and many of them are being failed repeatedly in the Physiology subject. Due to the casteist environment 8 Dalit students have left their studies in between in last few years.”
Prof. Mungekar further claimed that the discrimination practiced by the college is so strong that even the coding of answer sheets are done on the basis of caste.
He recommended strong actions against the following faculty members whom the enquiry committee held guilty of harassing Dalit and Adivasi students:
• Dr. VK Das, former Principal, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College
• Dr. Shobha Das, Head & Director of Physiology Department
• Dr. Raj Kapoor, Prof., Physiology Department
• Dr Jayshree Bhattacharjee, Principal, Vardhman Medical College
The enquiry committee has also demanded a compensation of Rs 10 Lakh to be paid by the college to victim students towards their expenses incurred in court cases.
Mr Punia added that the National Commission for Scheduled castes has taken notice of such discrimination prevalent in other premier educational institutions and is going to initiate strong actions against such practice.
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