The Times of India: Delhi: Tuesday, 05 September 2023.
A reply to an RTI application has revealed that in IIT-Delhi, 14 departments have no faculty from among Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST), 24 departments lack SC faculty, 15 departments lack ST faculty, and nine departments have no faculty from Other Backward Classes (OBC).
This data was obtained through an application filed by Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC) of IIT-Bombay on July 29. APPSC wanted information on the current composition of faculty at IIT Delhi in SC, ST, OBC-NC (OBC-non-creamy layer) as well as the general category. It received the response on August 24.
IIT-D has 27 departments.
Central Universities, such as IITs, that receive 100% funding from the central government and UGC have to adhere to the reservation policy that allocates 15% to SCs, 7.5% to STs, and 27% to OBCs in faculty appointments and course admissions.
In the mathematics department, seven professors are from the general category and none from reserved categories, according to the RTI data. The last two deaths by suicide in IIT-D were of SC students studying in the mathematics department.
Other departments with zero representation of faculty members from reserved sections are applied mechanics, centre for applied research in electronics, chemistry, centre for bio-medical engineering, school of public policy and others.
Rangan Banerjee, the director of IIT-D, told TOI: "The reservation policy was established in 2019, and it is not specific to any particular department. We make every effort to adhere to all the prescribed norms. The selection process is quite intricate and we are committed to promoting inclusivity. However, the progress in this regard is not as rapid as desired."
An APPSC member in IIT-Bombay told TOI: "IITs allocate approximately 20% of their positions to OBC candidates, 7% to SC candidates, and 2% to ST candidates, leaving the majority of positions for individuals from upper castes pursuing PhD."
A MTech student in electrical engineering in IIT-D said, "Having people from our own community on campus makes us feel at home. We need role models from our backward communities who understand our experiences. Faculty members play a significant role in defining the curriculum, administration, and policy decisions. To provide the support these students need, it's essential to have faculty members from these communities."
IIT-D held an open-house meeting with the institute's director on Sunday following the suicide of a 21-year-old final-year BTech student on September 1.
The meeting served as a platform for students and faculty to express their concerns and demand corrective actions.
A reply to an RTI application has revealed that in IIT-Delhi, 14 departments have no faculty from among Scheduled Castes (SC) or Scheduled Tribes (ST), 24 departments lack SC faculty, 15 departments lack ST faculty, and nine departments have no faculty from Other Backward Classes (OBC).
This data was obtained through an application filed by Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC) of IIT-Bombay on July 29. APPSC wanted information on the current composition of faculty at IIT Delhi in SC, ST, OBC-NC (OBC-non-creamy layer) as well as the general category. It received the response on August 24.
IIT-D has 27 departments.
Central Universities, such as IITs, that receive 100% funding from the central government and UGC have to adhere to the reservation policy that allocates 15% to SCs, 7.5% to STs, and 27% to OBCs in faculty appointments and course admissions.
In the mathematics department, seven professors are from the general category and none from reserved categories, according to the RTI data. The last two deaths by suicide in IIT-D were of SC students studying in the mathematics department.
Other departments with zero representation of faculty members from reserved sections are applied mechanics, centre for applied research in electronics, chemistry, centre for bio-medical engineering, school of public policy and others.
Rangan Banerjee, the director of IIT-D, told TOI: "The reservation policy was established in 2019, and it is not specific to any particular department. We make every effort to adhere to all the prescribed norms. The selection process is quite intricate and we are committed to promoting inclusivity. However, the progress in this regard is not as rapid as desired."
An APPSC member in IIT-Bombay told TOI: "IITs allocate approximately 20% of their positions to OBC candidates, 7% to SC candidates, and 2% to ST candidates, leaving the majority of positions for individuals from upper castes pursuing PhD."
A MTech student in electrical engineering in IIT-D said, "Having people from our own community on campus makes us feel at home. We need role models from our backward communities who understand our experiences. Faculty members play a significant role in defining the curriculum, administration, and policy decisions. To provide the support these students need, it's essential to have faculty members from these communities."
IIT-D held an open-house meeting with the institute's director on Sunday following the suicide of a 21-year-old final-year BTech student on September 1.
The meeting served as a platform for students and faculty to express their concerns and demand corrective actions.
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